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LeBron James Scores Crucial Points in 76ers' Victory Over Knicks
· 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.
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.
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to lead the Sixers, who took control early against the sloppy Knicks.
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.
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.
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.
"He's been good, but that was his best game for sure," Nurse said of James.
"I thought he was really good all the way through," Nurse added.
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.
James and Maxey's performance was crucial as the 76ers led by 14 in the third quarter and weathered a late Knicks surge.
"We didn't bring it in the first half, but the second half we definitely brought it," James said.
"I do. It's pretty special," James told NBC Sports' Zora Stephenson.
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.
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.
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.
James signed a free-agent deal with the Sixers in large part to have fun, play with close friends such as Maxey, and win.
Background
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Knicks captain and reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson is set to make his hosting debut just over three months after leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973.
- 4 Mississippi State improved to 10-0 with an 8-4 victory over Arizona State.
- None of it really works as well, though, without LeBron holding up his end of the bargain as a scorer.
- It is not shocking that a roster overflowing with talent is finding success.
- James signed a free-agent deal with the Sixers in large part to have fun, play with close friends such as Maxey, and win.
- The Rockets had emerged from a back-and-forth first half with a 51-44 lead, pushing the advantage to as many as 11 before taking an eight-point lead into the final frame.