Philadelphia protects its home court in a close group-stage opener
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points and LeBron James added 20 as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 98–93 in Philadelphia on October 30 in the United States, October 31 in the Philippines. The result gave the Sixers a winning start to NBA Cup group play.
James contributed nine rebounds and eight assists, combining scoring with possession-building work across the game. He shot 8-for-15 from the floor, including two three-pointers, and supplied a late go-ahead fadeaway as Philadelphia handled the closing stages.
Maxey made 10 of his 19 field-goal attempts and three of eight from beyond the arc. His 27 points represented more than a quarter of Philadelphia's total on a night when neither team reached 100.
The Sixers led 29–21 after one quarter and 53–44 at halftime. New York remained close enough to threaten, but Philadelphia retained a 77–68 lead entering the fourth before the Knicks reduced the final margin to five.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 12 rebounds. Their contributions kept the visitors competitive without overturning Philadelphia's advantage.
Maxey and James combined for 47 of the Sixers' 98 points. The significance of James's performance also showed in the eight assists and nine rebounds alongside his scoring, giving Philadelphia several forms of production in a tight game. For the Sixers, the result was a useful early Cup victory earned through a full game of work and timely late execution.