James Delivers Late as 76ers Edge Knicks 98-93 in NBA Cup Opener
LeBron James hit a go-ahead fadeaway jumper with 1:10 remaining and tipped in a missed shot with 11.9 seconds left, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 98-93 on Friday, Oct. 30, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Reuters reported.
The game opened group play in the NBA Cup, the league’s annual in-season tournament. Each team plays four group games, one against each opponent in its five-team group, and the group winners plus one wild card team from each conference advance to a single-elimination knockout stage, according to USA Today. Most Cup games also count toward the regular-season record.
The finish turned in the final 92 seconds. Jalen Brunson hit a 3-pointer with 1:32 left to give New York a 90-89 lead, Reuters reported. James answered with a fadeaway jumper, falling away from the basket as he shot, to put Philadelphia back in front.
VJ Edgecombe then beat the shot-clock buzzer with a 3-pointer that made the score 94-90, Reuters reported. Brunson split two free throws to cut the lead to three points, and James put back a missed shot by Tyrese Maxey, scoring on the rebound, to close out the win.
Maxey led Philadelphia with 27 points, and James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in his first season with the 76ers, Reuters reported. Anfernee Simons scored 21 points off the bench, and Edgecombe finished with 13 points.
Brunson scored 24 points for New York, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Reuters reported. Towns scored on a three-point play, a 3-pointer and a driving layup in a span of two minutes early in the fourth quarter, bringing New York within 83-76 after Philadelphia had led by as many as 11 points.
Philadelphia led 53-44 at halftime after shooting 55 percent from the field in each of the first two quarters, Reuters reported. Simons scored three 3-pointers, two free throws and a fadeaway jumper in the final five and a half minutes of the third quarter, helping Philadelphia carry a 77-68 lead into the fourth.
Philadelphia played without Jaylen Brown, who was out with a knee injury, Reuters reported. Simons took on an expanded role in his absence.
The win moved Philadelphia to 5-1 and dropped New York to 2-4, Reuters reported. It was Philadelphia’s second win over New York this season. The Knicks entered the game as the defending NBA Cup champions and the defending NBA champions, after beating San Antonio in last season’s Cup final and in the title series, The Associated Press reported.
Philadelphia plays Saturday at Charlotte, The Associated Press reported.
