The Sixers just pulled off a huge 98-93 win against the New York Knicks Friday night, holding off a wild second half comeback in Philadelphia. This wasn’t just any regular season game, folks, it was an Emirates NBA Cup group play matchup, and the Sixers are now sitting pretty at a 5-1 season record and a perfect 1-0 in Cup play. This team is rolling, and the early returns are looking seriously good.
Maxey Takes Charge, LeBron Delivers Clutch Moments
Tyrese Maxey was an absolute force, leading the Sixers with 25 points on an efficient 10-of-19 from the field, adding four assists. Seriously, the guy was cooking! He nailed a catch-and-shoot three and then embarrassed Mikal Bridges with a spin move for a wide-open midrange jumper. But it wasn’t just offense, his defense was stellar. Remember that play in the first quarter when Jalen Brunson tried a pull-up, and Maxey just swatted it before he could even get it off? The crowd was on its feet, and Maxey simply wouldn’t let Brunson by him, despite Brunson eventually hitting a jumper. That’s hustle.
Meanwhile, LeBron James had his best offensive performance as a Sixer to date, putting up 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbing nine boards. And when it mattered most, he delivered the dagger: a crucial putback that sealed the game. Early on, he also drove to the basket for an easy layup off a couple of swing passes and drained a three. Even Joel Embiid, who admittedly struggled from the field in the second half with just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting, was still the offensive hub, dishing out seven rebounds and seven assists, including sweet finds for a VJ Edgecombe jam and KCP in the paint. Talk about team effort, even when a star isn’t hitting all his shots.
Bench Spark and Early Game Rollercoaster
Don’t sleep on the bench performance either. Anfernee Simons dropped 21 points, providing a massive spark, while VJ Edgecombe was everywhere, doing all the little things, bagging seven rebounds, and hitting one of the biggest threes of the game to finish with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. This team’s depth is showing up big time.
The game started with a bit of a wobble, Embiid getting stripped on the very first possession before Dean Wade bravely saved the loose ball for a pair of free throws. But the offense quickly cleaned up its act. The Knicks, on the other hand, just couldn’t find their rhythm from deep early, missing six of their first seven three-point attempts. They did manage to hit a couple of threes later to briefly halt the Sixers’ momentum, with Brunson leading the charge for the Knicks with 24 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Sixers’ relentless attack and clutch plays. And, yeah, New York was missing some key guys too, with Jaylen Brown out with patellar tendinopathy in his left knee, along with Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Tacko Fall.
The Sixers are now 5-1 and 1-0 in NBA Cup group play. That’s a serious statement this early in the season. With LeBron finding his stride, Maxey dominating, and a deep bench, this team looks like it means business, especially in the new NBA Cup format. This is the kind of start that sets the tone for a deep run!
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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