Sixers’ defense spoils Knicks ring night, delivers 106-100 win in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown’s debut
The Sixers made up for slow debuts from James and Brown with tough coverage on Jalen Brunson.
NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson’s desperation three-pointer hit nothing but air, and a packed Madison Square Garden began to empty out.
In the debut of the 76ers’ revamped roster featuring the shocking additions of all-time great LeBron James and All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, their defense propelled them to a 106-100 victory Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden to spoil the New York Knicks’ title celebration.
The Sixers’ first win occurred after the Knicks received their 2025-26 championship rings and raised the banner in front of an energized home crowd. Sixers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged this opponent, which returned the bulk of its roster, would be a challenging test out of the gate.
» READ MORE: The Sixers are LeBron James’ fourth NBA destination. Here’s how he fared at his previous three spots.
Their defense was up to it, holding the Knicks to 37% from the floor, including a 6-of-19 mark from Finals MVP and former Villanova star Brunson. That helped the Sixers survive when they also struggled from deep range for much of the night. The Sixers pulled ahead in the third quarter, then held off the Knicks in the final minutes.
The Sixers’ home opener is Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season and are one of James’ former teams.
James, Brown gain momentum in debuts
Though James (14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) and Brown (19 points, eight rebounds, six assists) both initially struggled with shot efficiency, they flashed an early chemistry with each other.
In the first quarter, James’ first assist as a Sixer was Brown’s first bucket as a Sixer. Late in the second frame, James found Brown for a dunk.
In the third, Brown returned the favor on consecutive possessions. Following an alley-oop that Brown threw up to James, Brown again dished to James for a finish to convert a Knicks turnover into points.
James’ balanced stat line demonstrated his expected role as a facilitator first. Brown played stout defense, while two third-quarter dunks — plus an off-balance shot from behind the arc at the buzzer — helped push the Sixers ahead entering the final period.
Maxey mania
Even with the Sixers’ star newcomers, Tyrese Maxey was their top scorer with a game-high 28 points.
That nearly matched his scoring average during last season’s All-NBA campaign. And he was impactful on both ends of the floor, including when he turned a steal into the game-sealing dunk that put the Sixers up 104-98 with less than two minutes remaining.
“Tyrese was Tyrese,” James said of his longtime workout partner-turned-new teammate.
Maxey initially got free for two quick three-pointers, on a night the Sixers as a team went 11-of-40 from long range. He dashed into the open court in transition. And he was a legitimate defensive playmaker, including when he leapt up to take the ball away from Brunson and drew the foul on the opposite end.
And he flexed in front of the Knicks’ bench early in the fourth quarter, when he got downhill and converted a floater through contact.
Big-man battle
For the bulk of the first half, the best center on the floor was … Andre Drummond?
The former Sixer, who signed with the Knicks in free agency, provided a massive lift when All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns got in foul trouble. Drummond had 10 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks before the break. The fans inside The Garden serenaded him with chants of his name, and gave him a loud ovation when he checked out of the game.
Embiid went 4-of-15 from the floor, but Nurse called the former MVP “magnificent” in the way he read the floor. Embiid also totaled 11 rebounds, three blocks, and six assists (and four turnovers).
» READ MORE: The Sixers didn’t look like a team full of stars in their season-opening win. And it was a lot of fun
He found a bit of offensive rhythm in the second quarter, when he bumped Drummond and hit a jumper and then sank a three-pointer from the top. In the second half, he buried another beyond-the-arc shot, then twice found VJ Edgecombe inside for a drawn foul and dunk to increase the Sixers’ lead to 102-98 with less than three minutes to play.
Embiid also twice denied Drummond at the rim in the fourth quarter, and generally looked much more mobile defensively.
“This year’s going to be back to All-Defensive Team, like in the past,” Embiid said of his own play on that end. “So, felt good. Moving great. Felt like I was all over the place, so I need to do that every game.”
Worth noting
*Sixers reserve center Ariel Hukporti, who tore his Achilles tendon in their preseason opener against the Knicks earlier this month, was in the building to receive his championship ring. He was the Knicks’ third-string center last season, behind Towns and stout backup Mitchell Robinson. Hukporti is out for the season, and Nurse said before the game that he was unsure how much the big man would be around his new team during his rehabilitation.
*The Sixers’ primary reserves were Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (10 points) and Anfernee Simons (13 points), who both hit key three-pointers in the second half. Adem Bona and Jabari Walker also played, while rookie Labaron Philon Jr. did not. Dean Wade, who is expected to be a key rotation player, missed the game with an ankle injury.
Beat reporters Gina Mizell and Chris Hine break down their most intriguing quotes from LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey during the preseason, along with what they most hope to learn about this revamped roster during the first month of the season. Watch here.
Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Sixers Extra podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
