OG Anunoby scored 24 points and Josh Hart recorded a triple-double as the New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 111-99 on Tuesday, handing Joel Embiid a tough season debut.
This game was both teams’ first NBA Cup matchup of the season, and it was also a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series, which New York won in six games. All five of the Knicks’ starters scored in double digits, and Miles McBride added 15 points off the bench.
Hart finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson scored 18 points and Mikal Bridges had 14 points.
Embiid, who had missed six games due to a knee injury and three more after being suspended for shoving a reporter, made his return after a long break since the Olympics.
He played 26 minutes but struggled, making only 2 of 11 shots and finishing with 13 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
Paul George led the 76ers with 29 points and 10 rebounds, and rookie Jared McCain added 23 points off the bench.
New York was ahead 78-75 after three quarters and then started the final period with an 11-0 run. Anunoby scored two dunks during that run and also assisted McBride on a 3-pointer. Towns hit a 15-foot jumper to extend the Knicks’ lead to 89-75 with 8:14 remaining.
McCain hit three 3-pointers late in the game to try to keep the 76ers in the hunt, but it wasn’t enough as they lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
George and Towns were the main offensive players for Philadelphia in the first quarter, which ended with New York leading 27-25. Hart’s jumper at the buzzer of the second quarter gave the Knicks a 54-50 lead at halftime.
Brunson’s layup with about three minutes left in the third quarter gave the Knicks a 76-68 lead, but McCain scored five straight points and assisted Embiid on a layup to pull the 76ers within 76-75. Two free throws from Brunson gave New York a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
