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NEW YORK — The Philadelphia 76ers made an early statement that they intend to challenge the New York Knicks for NBA supremacy, using a late surge to secure a 106-100 win on Tuesday night. The victory came after Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in the offseason, signaling their intent to compete for a title.
Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 28 points, while Brown contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in his first appearance since being traded from Boston. James, beginning his record 24th NBA season, finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Philadelphia's bench also played a key role, with Anfernee Simons knocking down three 3-pointers and fellow newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope adding two. The reserves capitalized on open looks created when the Knicks focused heavily on the star players.
Jalen Brunson scored 21 points for New York but struggled from the field, making just 6 of 19 shots. Before the game, Brunson addressed the Madison Square Garden crowd during a ceremony where the Knicks raised their championship banner and received their rings. "The joy that this city had this summer, we would love to replicate that again," he told the fans.
New York will need to improve significantly after shooting 37% overall and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 19 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
The Knicks had dominated the 76ers in a second-round sweep last season, part of a 13-game winning streak and a 16-3 finish that featured the highest point differential in NBA playoff history. Philadelphia responded by acquiring Brown and signing James after the NBA's all-time leading scorer left the Los Angeles Lakers, positioning the 76ers as potential contenders.
Despite a rocky start, Philadelphia found its rhythm as the game progressed. The 76ers closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run, highlighted by Brown's second consecutive 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving them an 83-76 lead. Maxey's three-point play early in the fourth extended the advantage to 87-78.
The Knicks trimmed the deficit to 96-95 on a Towns 3-pointer, but Joel Embiid answered with a 3 of his own to keep Philadelphia ahead. Embiid finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Brunson, wearing gold sneakers for the occasion, was unable to deliver the clutch shots that defined the Knicks' championship run last season, when they defeated San Antonio in five games for their first title since 1973.
The celebratory pregame atmosphere gave way to a first half marred by fouls and missed shots, dampening the crowd's enthusiasm. New York briefly led by 10 after a strong stretch but held only a 58-54 halftime advantage.
Next up: The 76ers host Cleveland on Thursday night, while the Knicks visit Boston on Friday night.
Originally reported by adn.