The New York Knicks’ historic title defense hit an immediate snag on Friday as they fell to the Philadelphia 76ers, 98-93, in the opening night of the 2026 NBA Cup. Despite the absence of star forward Jaylen Brown, who sat out with patellar tendinopathy, the Knicks mounted a spirited fourth-quarter rally that briefly put them ahead. However, the Sixers answered the surge with five consecutive points, culminating in a decisive dagger from VJ Edgecombe to seal the victory and mirror New York’s disappointing start from last season’s tournament opener.
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Philadelphia’s offense was led by Tyrese Maxey, who poured in 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, while James delivered a near triple-double with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The Sixers also received a crucial spark from the bench, where Anfernee Simons contributed 21 points on efficient 11-shot shooting. For the Knicks, the loss extends a rough start to the regular season, dropping their overall record to 2-4 and raising questions about their depth without Brown on the floor.
This setback echoes the Knicks’ 2025 NBA Cup journey, where they also lost their opener to Philadelphia before rebounding to win their group and ultimately claim the championship. While last year’s early stumble did not derail their historic run to the NBA Finals, the current 2-4 record signals a need for immediate adjustment. As the defending champions look to protect their legacy, the Sixers’ ability to close out tight games in the fourth quarter will be a critical hurdle for New York to overcome in the coming weeks.
Source: Yahoo Sports
