The New York Knicks had waited a long time for a night like this. Before the season opener at Madison Square Garden, the defending champions received their rings and watched their championship banner rise. Then the Philadelphia 76ers stepped onto the court and gave the Garden a very different kind of memory.
Philadelphia opened the 2026–27 season with a 106–100 win, becoming the first team to spoil New York’s celebration. The Sixers did not dominate from the opening tip. They fell behind, weathered the Knicks’ best stretches, and took control with a huge finish to the third quarter. For me, that response was the story of the game: Philadelphia had enough experience and enough new talent to stay composed when the home team had the crowd and momentum behind it.
Maxey set the tone
Tyrese Maxey was the night’s standout. He led all scorers with 28 points, added four rebounds and five assists, and gave Philadelphia a dependable scoring option throughout the game. His speed put pressure on New York’s defense, and his ability to attack helped keep the Sixers from getting stuck when the Knicks were making a run.
Jaylen Brown also made an immediate impression in his Philadelphia debut, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. His most important stretch came late in the third quarter. Brown hit back-to-back three-pointers, including one at the buzzer, as Philadelphia closed the period on an 11–0 run. That burst turned a 76–72 deficit into an 83–76 Sixers lead.
LeBron James made his first regular-season appearance for Philadelphia and contributed 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He did not have to lead the team in scoring to make an impact. His passing helped connect the new lineup, and his experience showed in the way Philadelphia settled into the game after a choppy start.
Joel Embiid added 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. His three-pointer with just over three minutes left was especially important. The Knicks had pulled within one, and Embiid’s answer helped Philadelphia keep control. Rookie VJ Edgecombe also helped close the door, scoring 10 points and throwing down a dunk after Embiid found him near the end.
The run that changed the game
New York came out of the ceremony with energy and built three 10-point leads in the second quarter. The Knicks went into halftime ahead 58–54, and it looked as if the celebration might continue into the game.
Philadelphia changed the pace after halftime. The Sixers stayed within reach, then finished the third quarter with the 11–0 run that gave them the lead for good. The Knicks scored only 18 points in that period, while Philadelphia put up 29. Brown’s two late threes were the headline, but the run also reflected a team effort: the Sixers tightened up, created better chances and stopped allowing New York to dictate the rhythm.
The Knicks still made one more push. Karl-Anthony Towns hit a three-pointer to bring New York within 96–95 with 4:37 left. After a missed Philadelphia possession, Jalen Brunson had a chance to put the Knicks ahead, but his shot did not fall. Embiid answered with a three, and Edgecombe’s dunk after that helped Philadelphia preserve the advantage.
That sequence showed why a six-point final margin can hide how important a few possessions were. New York had chances to take control late, but Philadelphia made the steadier plays when it mattered.
The numbers behind the result
The Sixers shot 41.6% from the field, compared with 37.2% for New York. Neither team had a great night from three: Philadelphia made 11 of 40 attempts, while the Knicks made 11 of 33. Philadelphia’s advantage came from its overall shot-making and ball movement. The Sixers recorded 28 assists to New York’s 21 and committed 10 turnovers, four fewer than the Knicks.
New York did win the rebounding battle, 64–62, and had a clear edge in offensive rebounds, 14–6. Andre Drummond, who spent the previous two seasons with Philadelphia, finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Towns also recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Those performances gave the Knicks extra chances, but they could not make enough of them.
Brunson finished with 21 points, but he shot 6-for-19 from the floor. Josh Hart scored 14, and OG Anunoby had 10. New York’s 37.2% shooting made it difficult to hold onto its early lead, especially once the Sixers began finding better looks in the second half.
Where both teams stand
After one game, Philadelphia is 1–0 and New York is 0–1. That is the only standings conclusion the opener can support. It is far too early to decide where either club will finish, but the game offered an early look at what each team could become.
Philadelphia has a dramatically different look after adding Brown and James to a group led by Maxey and Embiid. The talent is obvious. The next challenge is making the pieces fit consistently, keeping everyone healthy and building the kind of defense and chemistry that last through a long season. This win was a strong first step, particularly because the Sixers did not fold after trailing at the Garden.
The Knicks remain the defending champions, and one loss on ring night does not erase what they accomplished. They showed their rebounding strength and had stretches where they controlled the game. But the opener also showed areas they need to clean up: New York shot poorly, turned the ball over 14 times and could not finish the final minutes. The championship banner is now in the rafters; the team has to build a new season from here.
The night belonged to New York before tipoff. By the final buzzer, though, Philadelphia had made its own statement. Maxey led the way, Brown delivered the decisive run, and the Sixers showed they can respond when the pressure rises. Ring night was a celebration for the Knicks, but opening night ended with the 76ers leaving Madison Square Garden with the win.
