NEW YORK, October 20, 2026. The New York Knicks raised their first NBA championship banner in 53 years, but Philadelphia had the final word. The 76ers beat the defending champions 106-100 at Madison Square Garden to open the 2026-27 regular season, erasing a four-point halftime deficit and surviving New York’s late push.
Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 28 points and Jaylen Brown supplied 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Brown’s buzzer-beating three-pointer closed the third quarter with Philadelphia seven points ahead, and his late block on Jalen Brunson helped protect the victory. LeBron James contributed 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his first regular-season game for Philadelphia.
Brunson led New York with 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 12 rebounds. The banner ceremony celebrated the Knicks’ June championship; the game itself showed how much has changed since they swept Philadelphia in the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals.
76ers vs. Knicks: Quarter-by-Quarter Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | 23 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 106 |
| New York Knicks | 25 | 33 | 18 | 24 | 100 |
New York led 58-54 at halftime. Philadelphia won the third quarter 29-18 to move ahead 83-76 and held on despite being outscored 24-23 in the fourth. The visitors start 1-0; the champions start 0-1. Consult the official NBA game center and NBA play-by-play for the game record.
The Third Quarter Changed the Night
The Knicks held a slender lead at the break after a 33-point second quarter. But Philadelphia’s offense found another gear after halftime. Anfernee Simons hit three three-pointers during the third period, giving the visitors perimeter scoring beyond their high-profile starters. With the clock nearly expired, Miles McBride threw an inbounds pass out of bounds. Philadelphia capitalized, and Brown buried a buzzer-beating three to make it 83-76.
The 29-18 quarter was the game’s decisive statistical swing. Philadelphia’s offense produced 11 more points than New York’s over those 12 minutes, turning a four-point deficit into a seven-point lead. The champions were left chasing a game that had been theirs to control.
Maxey Set the Pace; Brown and James Added New Dimensions
Maxey scored 28 points on 9-for-19 shooting, with five assists and three steals. In the final two minutes, he stole the ball and scored in transition to extend Philadelphia’s advantage to six. It was an example of how the 76ers’ defense supplied points at the moment their half-court offense most needed relief.
Brown combined shot-making with passing and defense. His third-quarter three was a momentum play, but his block on Brunson near the finish was just as important. James operated as another playmaker and rebounder rather than carrying the entire scoring load. Joel Embiid finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, providing interior resistance even as his own shot-making proved uneven.
Philadelphia’s Leading Players
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Other verified contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Maxey | 28 | Not listed | 5 | 3 steals; 9-for-19 FG |
| Jaylen Brown | 19 | 8 | 6 | Late block on Brunson |
| LeBron James | 14 | 9 | 7 | 76ers regular-season debut |
| Joel Embiid | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 blocks |
The opening game cannot settle how Philadelphia’s new lineup will perform over 82 games. It did show that Maxey can remain the primary scorer while James and Brown provide additional creation, rebounding and defensive options. That distribution matters for a team seeking to move beyond last spring’s playoff elimination.
Why the Knicks’ Fourth-Quarter Push Was Not Enough
Brunson finished with 21 points but shot 6-for-18 from the floor and scored only two in the final quarter. Philadelphia’s late defensive pressure restricted his usual influence. An OG Anunoby turnover and Brown’s late block added to the home team’s difficulties in closing possessions.
Towns recorded a double-double, while Andre Drummond supplied an energetic early rebounding presence. The Knicks narrowly won the fourth quarter but could not erase the seven-point gap they had conceded in the third. Their title run featured extraordinary recoveries, including against San Antonio in the Finals, but that history did not translate into another escape on opening night.
New York’s Leading Verified Individual Returns
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Relevant detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 21 | Not listed | 6-for-18 shooting; 2 fourth-quarter points |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 19 | 12 | Double-double |
Four Turning Points Behind the 106-100 Result
| When | What happened | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Halftime | Knicks led 58-54 | The home team held only a four-point cushion. |
| Third quarter | 76ers outscored Knicks 29-18 | Philadelphia turned a deficit into a seven-point lead. |
| End of third | McBride’s errant inbounds pass preceded Brown’s buzzer-beating three | Philadelphia entered Q4 ahead 83-76. |
| Closing minutes | Maxey’s steal and score; Brown’s block on Brunson | Defensive plays helped deny the comeback. |
What the Result Means for the Eastern Conference
New York swept Philadelphia in the 2026 conference semifinals before winning the NBA championship. This was a different 76ers lineup, with James and Brown now joining Maxey and Embiid. One game does not establish a new conference hierarchy, but Philadelphia’s balance and late-game defense gave the revamped team a meaningful opening statement.
The Sports Encounter previously covered the Knicks’ banner ceremony and the revamped Sixers, New York’s repeat challenge, James’s preseason introduction, the offseason’s major roster gambles, the 2026-27 NBA schedule, James’s challenge to the champions, New York’s final preseason game and Philadelphia’s last preseason outing.
The Knicks next visit Boston on Friday, October 23. Philadelphia next hosts Cleveland on Thursday, October 22. Check the official NBA schedule for updates.
76ers vs. Knicks: Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the October 20, 2026 Knicks vs. 76ers game?
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden.
Who led all scorers?
Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points for Philadelphia.
What decided the game?
Philadelphia’s 29-18 third quarter overturned New York’s halftime lead. Maxey and Brown made important defensive plays late.
How did LeBron James perform in his 76ers regular-season debut?
James had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.