The Knicks blew a 10-point lead and lost the opener 106-100 to Philadelphia while their wings went cold. Friday in Boston is the first chance to prove it was a one-night problem.
The Damage
The champions are 0-1. New York led 76-72 with 2:44 left in the third quarter. Philadelphia then scored 11 straight and took an 83-76 lead into the fourth. The Knicks scored 18 points in that quarter and spent the fourth chasing.
Cold Wings
OG Anunoby shot 3-for-12, went 1-for-9 from deep and finished minus-20 in 32 minutes. Mikal Bridges was minus-15. Jalen Brunson needed 19 shots for 21 points. Towns was the efficient one, 6-for-9 with 10 of his 19 in the fourth, but he played only 24 minutes and turned it over four times.
The Bench Spoke
Landry Shamet was plus-11, Jordan Clarkson plus-8 in nine minutes and Jose Alvarado plus-6. Andre Drummond pulled down 14 boards off the bench. Shamet and Alvarado were part of the group Mike Brown played over the last five minutes. Brown told ESPN's Vincent Goodwill he would not have felt good about a win given how his team played. Jared Schwartz of the New York Post reported that the Knicks are embracing the loss.
Up Next
Friday, October 23, at the Celtics on Prime Video. Then the Magic visit Sunday and the Pistons come in Tuesday. The last time the Knicks met Boston in a series, they ended the Celtics' season in the 2025 conference semifinals.
Bottom Line
One loss in 82 games is not a crisis. A champion that goes dead for a quarter on its own floor is a warning. The open question for Friday: do Anunoby and Bridges find their shots, or does Brown keep closing with Shamet and Alvarado?
When do the Knicks play next?
Friday, October 23, at the Boston Celtics on Prime Video. They host the Magic on Sunday, October 25.
Why did the Knicks lose their opener to the 76ers?
Philadelphia closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run and won 106-100. Anunoby shot 3-for-12 and Brunson went 6-for-19.
