Jaylen Brown absolutely went off, dropping 22 points in just 17 minutes, as the new-look Philadelphia Sixers crushed the Knicks 120-97 in their preseason opener. This team, missing stars like Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, and even LeBron James, still managed to look a step above the reigning champions. Talk about making a statement right out of the gate!
Brown’s Revenge Tour Kicks Off Early
It looks like Jaylen Brown’s revenge tour didn’t wait for the regular season. He put up those 22 points in just 16:51 of play and was effective from all over the floor. Early on, he was firing from midrange and the low post, establishing a rhythm that saw him account for nine of the Sixers’ first 13 points. He then got it going from beyond the arc, draining a straightaway pull-up jumper and a fadeaway corner three in the second quarter. Not just a scorer, Brown even had a block on Mohamed Diawara right after that fadeaway, showcasing his two-way ability in his first campaign with the Sixers. This performance highlights the incredible scoring luxury Philadelphia has, rolling over the Knicks’ strong wing defenders even with three of their four main offensive engines sidelined.
Sixers Look Scary Deep Without Their Stars
It wasn’t just Brown making waves. VJ Edgecombe made his presence felt, mostly in the paint, with his drives looking as explosive as ever. He powered through a tough shooting night to attack the paint, earning a handful of free throws and putting up 12 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds. Edgecombe looks like an improved, stronger version of the player we saw in his rookie season. Even end-of-rotation guys like Jabari Walker, Caleb Love, Saint Thomas, and Dillon Jones had impressive nights. The only real bummer was an early injury to backup center Ariel Hukporti in the first quarter. Coach Nick Nurse confirmed Hukporti will get imaging done on his right Achilles on Tuesday.
This is just preseason, but if this is what the Sixers look like without their full firepower, opponents better start taking notes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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