LeBron James Leads Philadelphia 76ers Past New York Knicks With Near Triple-Double
LeBron James delivered an impressive all-around performance to help the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the New York Knicks 98-93 in their opening game of the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Group Play on Friday.
The veteran superstar finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, narrowly missing out on a triple-double as Philadelphia secured an important victory in East Group B. James’ performance demonstrated his continued ability to influence games through scoring, rebounding and playmaking.
Tyrese Maxey was another major contributor for the 76ers, leading the team with 27 points and four assists while knocking down three three-pointers. Anfernee Simons also delivered an impressive offensive performance for Philadelphia, finishing with 21 points, including 18 in the second half, and five three-pointers.
Despite the contributions from Simons, the Knicks were unable to find a way past Philadelphia, eventually suffering a five-point defeat. The result gives the 76ers a winning start to their NBA Cup campaign and places them at 1-0 in East Group B, while New York drops to 0-1.
For Philadelphia, the victory provides an early confidence boost as the team looks to make a strong impression in the competition. Having experienced players such as James alongside offensive contributors like Maxey gives the 76ers valuable options as they pursue success.
The Knicks, meanwhile, will be disappointed with the result and will need to respond in their upcoming group fixtures if they hope to remain competitive in the race for a place in the knockout stages.
