LeBron James scores 14 as 76ers upset Knicks 106-100 on NBA opening night
LeBron James scored 14 points on his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers as they defeated champions the New York Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on the NBA season's opening night.
James, described in the report as a four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer, is 41 and entering a record-extending 24th season after his summer move from the LA Lakers; the appearance for the 76ers was his first with his fourth team. The Knicks held pre-game title celebrations, raising their third title banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden in front of a crowd that included Ben Stiller and Spike Lee, having ended a 53-year title drought with last season's NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Alongside James, Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 28 points while Jaylen Brown, making his debut for Philadelphia after joining from the Boston Celtics in a trade for Paul George, scored 19 points with eight rebounds and six assists. James added seven assists in the contest. The 76ers seized the initiative in the third quarter and maintained the advantage to close out the victory.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson top-scored with 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Despite the pre-game celebrations and their status as reigning champions, New York were unable to open the season with a win.
"I could be a lot better," James told broadcaster NBC. "Still getting my rhythm, obviously just a little bit over two weeks with the new squad. "But I like the way we played. I think we played exceptionally well, especially defensively."
In the opening match of the NBA's 81st season, the Detroit Pistons rallied in the second half to beat the Boston Celtics 121-113; Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren scored 22 points each and Duncan Robinson produced 15 of his 21 in the fourth quarter as Detroit closed the game with a 23-0 run. Paul George, in his debut for the Celtics after the offseason move, scored 38 points in a meeting described as between last season's top two regular-season teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder completed a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points. Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points; Victor Wembanyama made one basket in 13 attempts, collected 13 rebounds and six blocked shots and finished with 12 points largely thanks to 10 free throws. "Obviously, this is the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "But for us, I think it was more like we're just happy to be back. It's a longer summer when you don't win and we felt that this summer."
The Knicks also received their title rings before the game from Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, a member of the franchise's previous title-winning teams in 1970 and 1973.