LeBron begins record 24th NBA season with Sixers win over champions Knicks

LeBron James began his NBA-record 24th season with a winning Philadelphia debut as the rebuilt 76ers came from behind to beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100.

James scored 14 points and collected nine rebounds at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday in his first regular-season game since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. Fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown, acquired from Boston, contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, while Joel Embiid finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Brown helps turn the game

The Knicks received their championship rings and raised their title banner before the game. They led by as many as 10 points in the first half and went into the interval 58-54 ahead.

Philadelphia changed the contest with an 11-0 run to finish the third quarter. Brown hit consecutive three-pointers, the second on the buzzer, to give the visitors an 83-76 advantage.

Maxey's three-point play early in the fourth quarter extended the lead to nine, but New York responded. A Karl-Anthony Towns three-pointer reduced the margin to 96-95 with 4:37 remaining.

Sixers withstand the late challenge

Embiid answered with a three-pointer, and Philadelphia kept its lead. When Towns later cut the deficit to 100-98, VJ Edgecombe dunked from an Embiid pass and the Sixers stayed at least two possessions ahead for the remainder.

Anfernee Simons added 13 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 10 from the Philadelphia bench. Jalen Brunson led New York with 21 points but made only six of 19 shots; Towns recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The win came against the team that swept Philadelphia in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals, before the Sixers added James and Brown during the summer.

Sources

• 4 takeaways: New-look 76ers deliver at MSG to win season opener — NBA (2026-10-21)
• Tyrese Maxey, new-look 76ers ruin Knicks season-opening celebration — Field Level Media (2026-10-21)
• 76ers win opening game with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, beating NBA champion Knicks 106-100 — AP via ClickOrlando (2026-10-21)