Madison Square Garden got its championship moment. The Knicks received their rings, watched the 2025–26 NBA Championship banner rise, and celebrated the NBA Cup banner too. Then the new season began—and Philadelphia made sure the night had a second story.
The 76ers spoiled the celebration with a 106–100 win on Tuesday, October 20. The loss stings on a night New York had waited decades to celebrate, but the banner still belongs in the rafters. One opener does not erase what this group earned, and it does not decide the Eastern Conference race.
The score, quarter by quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 23 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 106 |
| New York | 25 | 33 | 18 | 24 | 100 |
New York came out with energy and built three 10-point leads in the second quarter. The game turned late in the third: Philadelphia closed the period with an 11–0 run, including two Jaylen Brown threes, to take an 83–76 lead into the fourth.
The Knicks made one more push. Karl-Anthony Towns drilled a three to bring New York within 100–98 with 2:40 left, but VJ Edgecombe answered with a dunk and Philadelphia held on. The Garden had the celebration; the Sixers had the finish.
The players who shaped the opener
Jalen Brunson led New York with 21 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 12 rebounds, including the late three that brought the Knicks back within one possession. Andre Drummond supplied 12 points and 14 rebounds in his Knicks debut. Those two frontcourt double-doubles gave New York a steady interior presence, even as the comeback ran out of time.
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 28 points. Brown posted 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists; LeBron James added 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Their third-quarter burst turned a close game into a lead the Knicks could not quite erase.
The early film points to familiar championship habits worth carrying forward: keep the pace up, protect the ball, and find the same connected offense that carried New York through last season. There is no reason to make a season-long verdict from one game. There is a clear reason to bring urgency into the next one.
What it means for the Eastern Conference
The Knicks open at 0–1. With only one game played, the conference picture is barely formed; this result creates no meaningful separation in the standings yet. The useful takeaway is simpler: a title defense starts over at zero, and every contender has to earn its place again.
Banner night was a reminder of the destination. The opener was a reminder of the work. New York gets the chance to respond next time out.
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