Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 2.5
Joel Embiid – 1
Anfernee Simons – 1
Jaylen Brown – 0.5
The Sixers welcomed the New York Knicks to Xfinity Mobile Arena for their second matchup of the young season. The Sixers won the first meeting on opening night at Madison Square Garden, but the stakes were raised a bit as it was the opening night of the NBA Cup. The Sixers, who have not fared well in the NBA Cup in previous seasons, would look to get off to a good start in the 2026 iteration. They were without
Jaylen Brown, who is sidelined with left patellar tendinopathy.
The Sixers continued their stout defense, which currently ranks third best in the NBA, in the first period holding the defending champs to just 21 points. The Sixers’ offensive attack was very balanced getting seven, six, six and five points, respectively, from Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and LeBron James in the first quarter. The pace was to the Sixers’ liking and they didn’t turn the ball over in the first period to the tune of 29-21 lead after the first.
Maxey continued his dominant scoring in quarter two pouring in 11 points in the frame to bring his total to 18 to lead the floor. The Sixers put together another solid defensive quarter holding the Knicks to just 23 points and a total of 41% from the field and just 32% from three in the first half. The Sixers extended their lead by one to take a nine-point advantage at intermission at 53-44.
Anfernee Simons carried over his hot shooting with big third and fourth quarters. The Sixers led 77-68 after three. The Knicks led 90-89 with 1:30 to go in the ball game after a comeback capped by a Jalen Brunson three. A James fallaway jumper followed up by a Edgecombe three gave the Sixers a four-point lead that they would not relinquish. A LeBron putback with 11 seconds left would put the Sixers up four for good, and after an OG Anunoby dunk and a pair of Tyrese Maxey free throws, the Sixers would win 98-93 to move to 5-1 on the season.
Time for the Bell Ringer.
Tyrese Maxey: 27 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 10-for-19 from the field
Maxey continues to be the steadying presence on this Sixers team with consistent scoring output and efficiency. His continuous use of his downfield speed to leverage his pull-up shooting makes him one of the most unstoppable scoring forces in the world.
LeBron James: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 8-for-15 from the field
Probably LeBron’s best game as a 76er. LeBron’s two timely buckets down the stretch helped carry the Sixers over the finish line. The difference that LeBron has made on the Sixers’ late-game execution on both ends has been immeasurable. He pulled down multiple clutch rebounds as well, something the Sixers will need to continue to get from him as it is one of their biggest weaknesses.
Anfernee Simons: 21 points, 7-for-11 from three, 5-for-8 from three
Anfernee Simons has been completely lights out the last two games. Simons knocked down five threes as an encore for the six threes he hit in Indiana on Wednesday night. He’s the single most vital piece to the Sixers’ offense off the bench and has the ultimate green light. Coming off of ball screens and DHOs, Simons is a threat to fire off the move and off the bounce. His dynamism in a two-man game with Embiid is something to monitor as the season goes on as it has the potential to be a deadly source of offense.
