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LeBron James Scores Crucial Points as 76ers Beat Knicks in NBA Cup Opener
· Confirmed
In Short: LeBron James scored 20 points, including a late tip-in, to help the Philadelphia 76ers secure a 98-93 victory over the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup opener on Friday.
James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, answered with a basket that put Philadelphia back in front and pushed the lead to 96-91 with 11.9 seconds left.
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to lead the Sixers, who took control early against the sloppy Knicks.
James, 41, added nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and a vintage chase-down block in what 76ers coach Nick Nurse called his best game since joining as a free agent in June.
The 76ers notched their second win of the young season over the Knicks after spoiling their championship banner-raising with a victory at Madison Square Garden on opening night.
Brunson led New York with 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 2-4.
The Dallas Mavericks, fueled by 35 points from Kyrie Irving and 33 from Cooper Flagg, rallied to hand the Houston Rockets their first defeat of the season 116-111.
Detroit shook off a slow start to hand the winless Nets a fifth straight defeat in Brooklyn, where Cade Cunningham scored 20 points and Ron Holland added 18 off the bench in a 110-94 Pistons victory.
What this adds
James and his agent, Rich Paul, had said the Knicks would have been James’ first choice in free agency had New York not won its first NBA championship since 1973 last season.
The 76ers picked up their second win against the Knicks this season, building on their opening-night triumph that spoiled New York’s banner-raising at Madison Square Garden.
Background
LeBron James scored 20 points, including a late tip-in, to help the Philadelphia 76ers win 98-93 over the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup opener.
President Donald Trump called on NBA star LeBron James to apologize for his actions during the national anthem at a recent game.
What's confirmed
- The win had a double edge as Friday's games marked the start of the fourth edition of the NBA Cup, the NBA in-season tournament won by the Knicks before they went on to beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals for their first championship since 1973.
- James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, answered with a basket that put Philadelphia back in front and pushed the lead to 96-91 with a tip-in off a Maxey miss with 11.9 seconds left.
- "He's been good, but that was his best game, for sure." Brunson led New York with 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 2-4.
- Detroit shook off a slow start to hand the winless Nets a fifth straight defeat in Brooklyn, where Cade Cunningham scored 20 points and Ron Holland added 18 off the bench in a 110-94 Pistons victory.
- They led by 14 in the third quarter and weathered a late Knicks surge.
- Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to lead the Sixers, who took control early against the sloppy Knicks.
- James, 41, added nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal and a vintage chase-down block in what 76ers coach Nick Nurse called his best game since joining as a free agent in June.
- LeBron James scored 20 points including a late tip-in to help seal the Philadelphia 76ers' 98-93 victory over the NBA champion New York Knicks on Friday.
- The 76ers notched their second win of the young season over the Knicks after spoiling their championship banner-raising with a victory at Madison Square Garden on opening night.
- "He's been good, but that was his best game for sure," Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said of James.
- "We didn't bring it in the first half, but the second half we definitely brought it."
- Jalen Brunson's step-back three-pointer put New York up 90-89 with 1:32 remaining.
What's still developing
- Jaylen Brown’s injury simplified the chain of command, with the Sixers opting to play through LeBron James and Joel Embiid heavily to start the night, to the benefit of the entire group.
- For anyone concerned about how LeBron has looked to start the year on offense, a performance like this appears to support the belief that he’s easing into the year.
- According to one longtime Cavaliers insider, however, Philadelphia can offer James something even more compelling: another defining chapter for his legacy.
- With LeBron James sitting, the Sixers’ four other stars shined in their third straight win to start the season.
- Jaylen Brown missed a game for the first time this season with left knee soreness, leaving Maxey the lone player to start every game.
- Three players (Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Brown) are averaging north of 20 points per night so far, with Maxey leading the pack at 28.4.
- Brunson, who helped the Knicks capture their first title in 53 years this summer, will make his hosting debut on Sept.
- Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET on FOX, with Green Bay entering Week 4 at 1-2 and Tampa Bay still searching for its first victory at 0-3.
- After the story about Joel Embiid being late to practice that was told by Mike Breen during the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks preseason game broadcast, went viral, LeBron James denied the story, which lead Breen to address the situation.
- "I do. It's pretty special," James told NBC Sports' Zora Stephenson (0:42 mark).
- James, who joined Philadelphia after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, became the first player in NBA history to reach 24 seasons in the league.
- Yet, all that said, everyone is chasing the New York Knicks, who went on a historic postseason run in June to snap a 53-year championship drought.