New York Knicks lose season opener to Philadelphia 76ers

The defending champion New York Knicks opened their title defense with a 106-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Despite a recent championship celebration, the Knicks struggled offensively, recording a 99.0 offensive rating and their lowest points per direct pick of the decade.

Karl-Anthony Towns faced early foul trouble, picking up two fouls within the first four minutes, which limited him to 24 minutes of play. This forced Andre Drummond into an early role; while Drummond provided a strong first-half performance with 10 points and 12 rebounds, his effectiveness waned in the second half.

Other notable performances included Landry Shamet, who contributed four assists in 24 minutes despite shooting 2-for-7 from the field, and Josh Hart, who dismissed the significance of the loss, stating, “It’s Game 1. It means literally nothing.” The Knicks look to bounce back this Friday in a road game against the Boston Celtics.