The 76ers took the shine off banner night 106-100, wiping out a 10-point Knicks lead with an 11-0 run to close the third. Past October 21 games show what a champion looks like in the first week of a season, and what a bad one looks like.
Philly Again
The Knicks led by 10. Then they scored 18 in the third quarter, and the 76ers finished it on an 11-0 run to go up 83-76. Tyrese Maxey had 28. Jalen Brunson went 6-for-19. OG Anunoby went 1-for-9 from deep and finished minus-20. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 10 of his 19 in the fourth, and it wasn't enough. ESPN reported that Mike Brown said he would not have felt good about a win given how his team played. He's right.
Champions Start Fast
On this date in 1969, Red Holzman's Knicks beat Phoenix 140-116, and that season ended with the franchise's first title. On this date in 1972 they beat Philadelphia 111-88, and that season ended with the 1973 title. Reed, Frazier, DeBusschere, Barnett and Jackson didn't wait for November to look like champions.
The Bad Old Days
There's a darker October 21. In 1961 the Knicks lost 132-95 at the Philadelphia Warriors. Later that season, on March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 against them in a 169-147 loss. After Joe Lapchick resigned in 1956, New York made the playoffs only once through 1966. That's what drift looks like.
Where It Started
One more October 21. In 2022 the Knicks beat Detroit 130-106 in Brunson's first season. That signing kicked off the rebuild: Josh Hart, Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Towns followed, and so did the 2026 championship, ending a 53-year wait. This core earned its banner. Now it has to prove it can win two in a row, which no Knicks team has ever done.
The Verdict
One loss doesn't make a slump, but sloppy shooting and a quiet third quarter are habits worth breaking now. The Knicks play at Boston on October 23, against the club they knocked out in the 2025 conference semifinals, and they get Philadelphia again on October 30. The 1972 team handled Philly with ease. This team owes Philly a better answer.
When did the Knicks win their championships?
The Knicks won titles in 1970, 1973 and 2026. The 2026 championship ended a 53-year drought.
Who do the Knicks play next after losing to the 76ers?
The Knicks play at the Celtics on October 23. They face Philadelphia again on October 30.
