In a decisive Friday night showdown, the Philadelphia 76ers halted the New York Knicks’ seven‑game winning streak with a 116‑107 victory at Madison Square Garden.
A High‑Quality Finish
The win pushed the Sixers to 15‑11 on the season while the Knicks fell to 19‑8. Philadelphia’s offense exploded, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 30 points and dishing nine assists. VJ Edgecombe added 23 points and four assists, and both Jalen Brunson and Karl‑Anthony Towns finished with 22 points apiece. Mitchell Robinson was the leading rebounder, pulling down 16 boards and scoring 21 points.
Key Players Missing
Joel Embiid was absent due to illness and right‑knee injury management, while Kelly Oubre Jr. sat out with a left‑knee LCL sprain and Trendon Watford missed the game because of a left adductor strain. Embiid did attend the team’s morning shootaround, and head coach Nick Nurse said he does not believe the big man has had a recent setback. Watford took pre‑game jumpers, and both he and Oubre have advanced to individual on‑court workouts as part of their rehab processes.
Maxey’s Return
Tyrese Maxey re‑entered the lineup after missing the previous two games with an illness. He opened the game with a floater on his first shot and followed with two long‑range jumpers that gave Philadelphia a 16‑10 lead. Maxey’s scoring touch remained intact, and he finished with 30 points and nine assists.
Players Struggling in Maxey’s Absence
Paul George, who had posted a season‑high 35 points against the Hawks, opened the game 0‑for‑6 and didn’t score until the 4:59 mark of the second quarter. OG Anunoby defended George tightly, making it difficult for him to find openings. VJ Edgecombe, who had 26 points in Atlanta, began 2‑for‑8 and had two first‑quarter jumpers swatted by Mitchell Robinson.
Bench Depth and Early Fluctuations
Dominick Barlow emerged as the Sixers’ second‑leading scorer in the first quarter, posting nine points on 4‑for‑5 shooting and grabbing four offensive rebounds. Philadelphia shifted to a bench‑heavy lineup late in the first. On New York’s second unit, former Sixer Guerschon Yabusele sank a three on his first touch. Backup big man Adem Bona drew his third foul early in the second quarter on a Karl‑Anthony Towns and‑one hoop, then was subbed out and replaced by Barlow in a brief stint at center.
Foul Trouble and a Knicks Surge
The Sixers’ fouls started to pile up, and their offense cooled. The Knicks took a 40‑34 lead on a Mitchell Robinson put‑back slam. Justin Edwards, the final player to check in from Philadelphia’s 10‑man rotation, made two straight catch‑and‑shoot threes from the left wing in his first NBA game as a 22‑year‑old. Those were Edwards’ first made field goals in an NBA game since December 4.
Edwards’ Confidence and Nurse’s Praise
Edwards had gained confidence from a G League appearance Tuesday with the Delaware Blue Coats, where he poured in 37 points. “Listen, I’m going to tell you again that I love Justin,” Nurse said Wednesday. “He’s still a very young player. … Both (him and Bona) went down there and embraced it, and they played great. I told them both, ‘Do your thing. Play hard. … Play to your strengths.’ … It was good to see them both have some fun. They’re young, man. I would imagine we’re going to use them this weekend in a back‑to‑back, right? And it was a good time for them to get some rhythm and go down there.” Edwards missed his next two jumpers, then fouled Brunson on a corner three. Brunson converted a four‑point play, and the Knicks entered halftime with a 59‑57 edge.
Third‑Quarter Surge
Philadelphia started the third quarter strong. Edgecombe scored a fast‑break layup and played a fantastic period overall. Andre Drummond nailed his third corner three of the game. Edgecombe played aggressively while avoiding costly turnovers, and the Sixers ran a 12‑0 run off turnovers late in the third quarter. Their success helped mitigate New York’s superior offensive rebounding, 21‑10.
Robinson’s Clutch Moments
Robinson sparked the Knicks in the final minutes of the third quarter, partly through improbable success at the free‑throw line when Philadelphia intentionally fouled him. Going into Friday, he was 6‑for‑27 (22.2%) on his free throws this season, but he went 7‑for‑8 against the Sixers. Robinson’s put‑back lay‑in on the Knicks’ first possession of the fourth quarter gave New York an 89‑88 lead.
Philadelphia’s Response
The Sixers answered with threes from Jared McCain and Maxey that pushed them to a five‑point edge. McCain contributed 12 points in 21 minutes off the bench. Edgecombe was brilliant down the stretch, hitting a mid‑range jumper, a clutch three, and a big‑time dunk. The rookie dove on the floor to recover a crucial loose ball, and seconds later Maxey buried a dagger three to seal the win.
Looking Ahead
Philadelphia will travel home and face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. The victory over the Knicks gives the Sixers momentum as they continue to battle for playoff positioning.
Key Takeaways
- Maxey’s 30 points and nine assists led Philadelphia’s offense.
- Injuries to Embiid, Oubre, and Watford kept the Sixers without key contributors.
- The Sixers’ bench depth and defensive play were decisive in the win.
The 76ers’ high‑scoring performance and defensive resilience will be key as they prepare for the upcoming series against the Mavericks.
