The Philadelphia 76ers spoiled the New York Knicks’ championship ring night at Madison Square Garden with a hard-fought 106-100 victory.
Before tip-off, the Knicks celebrated their title by raising their championship banner and accepting gold-trimmed rings. However, once the action began, Tyrese Maxey stole the show with a stellar 28-point performance to lead Philadelphia past their Eastern Conference rivals.
New look Philadelphia closes out late rally
New York mounted several second-half runs behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, cutting the deficit to a single point in the fourth quarter.
Joel Embiid answered with a crucial clutch three-pointer to rebuild Philadelphia’s momentum, while newly acquired stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown provided key defensive plays down the stretch.
The Sixers finished on an 11-0 run late in the third quarter to take control and held on through the closing minutes.
Thunder holds late lead in action-packed Western clash
Meanwhile, Western Conference contenders delivered opening-night drama of their own as the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the San Antonio Spurs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for Oklahoma City, pouring in 30 points to establish a double-digit cushion.
Young stars fight back in San Antonio
San Antonio refused to back down on home court. Stephon Castle notched 21 points, while Victor Wembanyama dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and 6 blocks to keep the Spurs within reach. Despite San Antonio’s late comeback bid, Oklahoma City’s high-powered offense maintained control in the final minutes.
