76ers Beat Knicks 106-100 as Tyrese Maxey Scores 28

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 106-100 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, behind Tyrese Maxey’s game-high 28 points. Philadelphia overturned a four-point halftime deficit with a decisive third quarter, then held off New York at Madison Square Garden to begin its NBA regular season with a road win.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Knicks Take a Narrow Lead

New York finished the opening quarter ahead 25-23. Neither team established much separation on the scoreboard, leaving the Knicks with a two-point advantage entering the second period.

Second Quarter: New York Extends Its Advantage

The Knicks outscored Philadelphia 33-31 in the second quarter, taking a 58-54 lead into halftime. New York’s 33 points represented its highest-scoring quarter of the night, but the visitors remained within four.

Third Quarter: Philadelphia Takes Control

The game’s defining stretch came after halftime. Philadelphia outscored New York 29-18 in the third quarter, turning a four-point deficit into an 83-76 lead. That 11-point quarterly advantage more than accounted for the eventual six-point margin.

Fourth Quarter: 76ers Hold Off the Knicks

New York edged Philadelphia 24-23 over the final 12 minutes, but that one-point advantage was not enough to reverse the third-quarter swing. The 76ers finished with a 106-100 victory in regulation before an announced crowd of 19,812.

Key Performers

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia: Led all scorers with 28 points and added three steals and three blocks, contributing at both ends of the floor.
• Joel Embiid, Philadelphia: Led the 76ers with 11 rebounds.
• LeBron James, Philadelphia: Recorded a team-high seven assists as Philadelphia finished with 28 assists overall.
• Jalen Brunson, New York: Paced the Knicks with 21 points.
• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York: Delivered a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
• Andre Drummond, New York: Collected a game-high 14 rebounds and led the Knicks with four assists.

NerdSports Stat: Philadelphia made two more two-point field goals than New York despite taking 12 fewer attempts inside the arc: 26-for-49 for the 76ers versus 24-for-61 for the Knicks.

Game Analysis: Efficiency Outweighs New York’s Rebounding Edge

Philadelphia won despite trailing 53-45 in rebounds and shooting just 27.5% from three-point range. The difference was its more efficient work inside the arc, supported by a 28-21 advantage in assists.

The 76ers finished 37-for-89 from the field, shooting 41.6%, while the Knicks went 35-for-94 for 37.2%. Both teams made 11 three-pointers, although New York needed only 33 attempts compared with Philadelphia’s 40. The Knicks’ better percentage from distance did not translate into an advantage in points from beyond the arc.

Philadelphia also made better use of equal opportunities at the foul line. Each team attempted 27 free throws, with the 76ers converting 21 and the Knicks making 19. Two additional two-point baskets and two additional free throws supplied Philadelphia’s six-point scoring advantage.

For New York, the clearest concern was the drop in scoring after halftime. The Knicks followed a 58-point first half with just 42 points across the final two quarters. Philadelphia scored 52 in the second half, enough to overturn the home team’s early advantage.

Closing Context: Philadelphia Opens 1-0

The victory puts Philadelphia at 1-0 overall and 1-0 on the road, while New York opens 0-1 overall and at home. The 76ers next host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, October 22, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Knicks remain home to face the Boston Celtics on Friday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. EDT, seeking their first win of the season.

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