Sixers rally in LeBron's debut, spoiling Knicks' championship celebration
The Philadelphia 76ers rallied past the New York Knicks 106-100 on opening night, spoiling the champions' ring ceremony at Madison Square Garden as LeBron James began his record 24th NBA season.
LeBron James began his NBA-record 24th season in a Philadelphia uniform on Tuesday night, and the revamped 76ers spoiled the New York Knicks' championship celebrations by rallying for a 106-100 win at Madison Square Garden.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points. Jaylen Brown, playing his first game for the Sixers, finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Joel Embiid added 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The Knicks had raised their championship banner in a pregame ceremony and started brightly, but Philadelphia's bench turned the game. Anfernee Simons made three 3-pointers and fellow newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added two more, taking advantage of the open looks created when New York's defence focused on the Sixers' stars.
Jalen Brunson scored 21 points for New York but shot only 6-for-19 from the field, and the Knicks shot 37% overall. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
After Maxey's three-point play early in the fourth quarter made it 87-78, the Knicks rallied to within a point at 96-95, only for Embiid to answer with a 3-pointer as Philadelphia held on. The win was a statement from a team that was swept by New York in the second round of last season's playoffs and responded by trading for Brown and signing James.
Source: ESPN — Top Headlines — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.