The New York Knicks just kicked off their NBA Cup title defense with a gut-punch loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, making it *another* opener against Philly where the defending champs came up short. On the first night of 2026 NBA Cup play, the Knicks once again fell to Philadelphia, this time by a tight 98-93 margin. Talk about a rough start when you’re trying to defend a trophy!
A Fourth-Quarter Fight That Wasn’t Enough
It was a battle, even with the Sixers playing without Jaylen Brown, who was out with patellar tendinopathy. The Knicks nearly pulled off a double-digit comeback in the fourth quarter, even taking the lead at one point. You could feel the momentum shifting, right? But the Sixers weren’t having it. They immediately responded with five straight points, absolutely capped off by a dagger from VJ Edgecombe. The game was intense, with “BRUNSON FOR THE LEAD. LEBRON PUTS PHILLY AHEAD. VJ MAKES IT A 4-POINT GAME” in the final 32.6 seconds of the @emirates NBA Cup East Group B action. Man, that stings when you’re fighting to get back in it.
Individual Brilliance and a Broader Struggle
For the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey was lights out, leading his team with 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting. LeBron James wasn’t far from a triple-double either, putting up 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. And Anfernee Simons came off the bench and added 21 points on just 11 shots. That kind of efficiency is exactly what you need to close out a tough game. For the Knicks, this isn’t totally unfamiliar territory for their Cup aspirations. They actually lost their NBA Cup opener last season too, but then they went on to win the next three games, clinching first place in their group. They took down the San Antonio Spurs in the championship game, and then, the big one, they won their first NBA Finals in 53 years. Incredible!
But this time, the vibe is different. Beyond the NBA Cup, this loss just piles on to a tough start for New York. Their overall record now sits at a shaky 2-4. That’s not where you want to be when you’re supposed to be a top team defending titles. Around the league, highlights were already popping, like Kevin Durant, at 38 years young, throwing down a “WATCH. YOUR. HEAD.” dunk for the Houston Rockets. The NBA Cup Night 1 scoreboard is live, but for the Knicks, it’s a tough look.
This 2-4 overall record is definitely something to keep an eye on. Can the Knicks shake off this early season slump and turn it around like they did last year in the Cup? Or is this a sign of bigger struggles to come for the defending champions?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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