The Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 98-93 on Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, opening NBA Cup group play with a win over the defending champions. Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, LeBron James added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Anfernee Simons scored 21 off the bench for the 76ers, who moved to 5-1 on the season.
Philadelphia led by 14 points in the third quarter, then watched the lead disappear in the fourth. New York went in front 90-89 on a Jalen Brunson three pointer with about 90 seconds left. James answered with a fadeaway jumper with 1:10 remaining, V.J. Edgecombe buried an insurance three pointer, and James tipped in a Maxey miss with 11.9 seconds left to seal the result. The 76ers closed on a 9-3 run after trailing 90-89.
It was the second win over the Knicks for Philadelphia in the young season. The 76ers also beat New York on opening night at Madison Square Garden, in what was James’s debut for the club. The Knicks, who won the title last season, fell to 2-4.
James delivers late for the 76ers
James, who turns 42 in two months and is playing in his 24th NBA season, produced his best game since joining Philadelphia as a free agent. He scored on Mikal Bridges in the post in the first half and chased down OG Anunoby for a blocked shot in the third quarter. After the 76ers let their lead slip in the fourth, he took over the closing minutes.
“He’s been good,” coach Nick Nurse said, “but that was his best game for sure.”
James also tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the fifth-oldest player in NBA history to record a 20-point game. He signed with Philadelphia in large part to play with close friends such as Maxey and to chase a fifth championship, which would come with a fourth different team after titles in Miami, Cleveland and with the Lakers.
“I’m having a great time,” James said. “I love what we’re bringing to the table every night. I love our competitive spirit. Guys show up to work. Guys are ready to work hard. It’s a fun group, too.”
“I’ve been in some huge games this sport has ever seen,” James said. “For me to be able to be a calming factor for our team, late game, it’s just the experience that I have. If that’s me with the ball, me without the ball, being able to put guys in the right position. Just talk them through it.”
Maxey and Simons carry the 76ers scoring
Maxey shot 10 of 19 from the field and added four rebounds and four assists. He scored five quick points to open the third quarter, helping Philadelphia build a 14-point cushion, and he finished with 11 points in the second quarter alone on the way to his game-high total. Maxey has started every game this season for the 76ers, who have used their regular starting five together only three times in six games.
Simons, playing an increased role with Jaylen Brown ruled out before tipoff with left patellar tendinopathy, shot 7 of 11 from the field and 5 of 8 from three point range. Three of his three pointers came in the third quarter. Edgecombe finished with 13 points, including the late three pointer that pushed the lead to four.
Joel Embiid shot 3 of 12 from the field and scored 10 points, but Philadelphia still found enough scoring elsewhere. The 76ers held New York to 93 points, their lowest opponent total of the season, and their five-point margin was their narrowest victory of the season, tied with Wednesday’s win over Indiana.
Knicks fall to 2-4 after late rally
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points for New York, and Brunson added 24. The Knicks trailed 53-44 at halftime and 77-68 after three quarters before rallying in the fourth. Brunson’s three pointer gave them their first lead of the closing stretch, but they could not hold it. Anunoby dunked late to cut the margin, and Maxey made two free throws to close out the 98-93 win.
Philadelphia has now outscored New York 204-193 across the two wins this season. The 76ers visit the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET, and their second NBA Cup game is next Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks host the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.