Category: Basketball

The Knicks chipped away at a big second-half deficit for the second consecutive game, but ultimately fell to the 76ers at the Garden, 130-119.

New York has now lost three straight games and two straight at home. The 76ers have now defeated the Knicks in both of their games this season, both at MSG. 

After not playing in the Knicks' disappointing loss to the Hawks on Friday, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup, but the size wasn't enough as the combination of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 62 points.

The last time Maxey was at the Garden (Dec. 19), the point guard posted 30 points with nine assists in the 76ers' win. Maxey one-upped himself on Saturday, scoring 36 points on 14 of 22 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. He also had a steal and two blocks. 

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points on 10 of 21 shooting, four rebounds and four assists.

Here are the takeaways...

-It was a physical game early, with the refs swallowing their whistles for both teams -- to the chagrin of the players and coaches. The Knicks took advantage of the physicality, especially Brunson, who scored 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting and 5 of 7 from the free throw line. 

However, the 76ers shot 61 percent from the field thanks to their paint points. They only took three three-pointers in the quarter (1-for-3), with Joel Embiid (7 points), Edgecombe (7) and Maxey (6) giving Philadelphia the early 31-30 lead after one.

-Brunson was on the bench to start the second, and the combination of KAT, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride was careless with the ball. The 76ers forced turnovers and frustrated Towns with their physicality, so much so that the big man picked up a technical foul with about eight minutes to go in the quarter. With Brunson on the bench, Towns forced it whenever he touched the ball, leading to turnovers and poor possessions. 

The three ball would help the Knicks cut into Philly's lead, but the 76ers used the three themselves to push their lead to double digits. A late flurry from the Knicks helped them cut their deficit to 66-58 at the half.

Brunson scored 21 points at halftime, while the only other Knick to score in double figures was Anunoby (12). Towns had just two points on 1 of 6 shooting. Philadelphia, after shooting just three threes in the first quarter, was 7 of 14 in the second and the Knicks could not adjust. Edgecombe had a team-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting (4 of 6 from three) in the first half. 

-The Knicks' defense continued to be porous in the third as the 76ers got whatever shot they want, building a game-high 17-point lead midway through the frame. The second group off the bench helped cut a 19-point deficit to 12 with a minute to go in the third, but Maxey's whip-around pass to former Knick Quentin Grimes for a three stopped New York's momentum. McBride made all three free throws when he was fouled taking a three as the Knicks went into the final quarter down 99-87.

-Towns' offensive game finally woke up to start the fourth as the big man went at Embiid down low to help the second unit cut the deficit to nine points. With 9:04, however, the Knicks had a chance to cut into the Philly lead even more, but Edgecombe blocked a Bridges three that led to a fastbreak, and the rookie guard finished it with a dunk to force a Mike Brown timeout. 

The Knicks tried to claw back, but Maxey wouldn't allow it. With four minutes to go, Maxey launched a deep three on a broken play in front of the Knicks bench to keep the 76ers lead in double figures. But a pair of McBride threes and some timely defense helped the Knicks cut the lead to seven with two minutes remaining.

A big offensive rebound by Paul George and a steal by Edgecombe in the final minutes sealed the game for Philadelphia.

-Embiid, who missed the last meeting, had 26 points with 10 rebounds and five assists. 

-Towns finished 23 points and 14 rebounds while Anunoby (19), Bridges (12) and McBride (20) rounded out the double-digit scoring for New York.

Game MVP: Tyrese Maxey

The young guard willed the 76ers to a win. Whenever the Knicks made their run, Maxey had an answer. 

Highlights

What a feed from KAT to OG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7rzcE4fWgN

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

The bank is open for Deuce McBride! 😅 pic.twitter.com/Uu8eNoE8Xa

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Kevin McCullar Jr. for three 🎯 pic.twitter.com/3XYZczWkMv

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Tyler Kolek! 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/QDJwsqcpCr

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

What's next

The Knicks hit the road after an off day on Sunday. They'll travel to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seed Pistons. Tip is set for Monday at 7 p.m.

Steph Curry, Warriors respond again with win after another early Draymond exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – There’s a trend surrounding the Warriors that’s starting to become more noticeable than their fondness for turnovers.

With two minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first half and the Warriors struggling in a frustrating second quarter, Draymond Green received two quick technical fouls for an automatic ejection.

Green was loud with his voice and his hands towards umpire Simone Jelks as Kyle Filipowski, whom Green was defending, clearly camped in the paint beyond the allowed three seconds. That resulted in his first tech. 

As Green turned his attention to Jelks, Lauri Markkanen went right past him for a dunk. 

Then came the second tech as Green turned his attention towards referee Kevin Cutler, who nearly instantly felt a verbal line was crossed, sending the 35-year-old back to the Warriors’ locker room for the rest of the game. The Warriors’ response on the court was just as immediate. 

Markkanen made both free throws from Green’s two techs, giving the Jazz a four-point swing and a 12-0 run. They led 60-48 after the two free throws. But whether it was a fire lit inside them or something else, the Warriors outscored the Jazz 10-5 to end the half and by 21 points the rest of the game for a 123-114 win.

Collectively, the Warriors didn’t agree with Green being tossed so quickly. And they won’t lean into the notion that the team is better without him. 

“Nah, hell nah. That ain’t the formula,” Jimmy Butler said. “No, no, no, no, no. We need Two-Three out there. When you’re a man down, you got to pick up everything. It’s generally hard to cover up what he does on both sides of the floor. …It’s so hard to do what he does. But it’s a collective effort when he’s not out there.” 

“I can tell you this: You look at Draymond’s career and he’s on the plus side in a massive way over and over again,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr added.

Nobody can take away Green’s accomplishments in a Golden State jersey. He’s a four-time champion, a future Hall of Famer, one of the most unique players in NBA history and only a handful of guys historically can be mentioned in the same breath as him defensively. 

The numbers, especially over the last month, also unveil a different picture of the current version of Green and the Warriors as a whole. 

Kerr used 11 players Saturday night, and only three had a negative plus/minus. De’Anthony Melton was a minus-3 in 25 minutes off the bench, but he stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, three 3-pointers, two assists and two steals. Rookie Will Richard was a minus-1 over 18 minutes in reserve. Both were in the positive in the second half sans Green. 

In 12 minutes before his ejection, Green was a minus-15. Since Dec. 1, he has produced a positive plus/minus twice in 11 games – once against the 12-win Charlotte Hornets, and once against the 10-win Brooklyn Nets. Overall, he now is a minus-65 in that month-long span. 

Green, in his last seven games, has been ejected twice and left the bench early in another. He hasn’t finished three of his last four home games at Chase Center. The Warriors responded to his ejection against the Phoenix Suns and were a plus-16 without him. They then outscored the Orlando Magic by 28 points after his incident with Kerr on the bench. 

Wins for the Warriors followed both times, as well as Saturday night against the Jazz. 

The saving grace one night after a 37-point trouncing from the Oklahoma City Thunder was Steph Curry’s 20-point third quarter, which also was without his running mate of the last 14 years. Curry went into the half with nine points on 2-of-7 shooting and then reeled off his latest vintage third-quarter flurry to the tune of 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 4 of 6 on threes and was a plus-11 in 11-plus minutes to give the Warriors a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter. 

Fans were in for a treat during that stretch. Curry pulled off both his signature look-away 3-pointer with the ball in the air in the third quarter, as well as yet another triple nearly from the logo. 

Trying to get him to pick between the two was like asking him to choose a favorite of his four children. 

“They’re both great,” Curry said, before repeating the same answer behind a smile. “They’re both great.” 

Still serving a show on a nightly basis, Curry’s longtime coach knows where the credit belongs. 

No plays need to be drawn up. Advice would be a laughing matter. Watch him let it fly and reap the rewards. 

“It wasn’t me, it wasn’t my play calls or anything. It was just Steph,” Kerr said. “That’s how good he is. 

“But again, everything felt right in the second half. The spirit, the energy, the level of competitive fight. You’re much more likely to make shots when you have that approach.”

The same spirit, energy, level of competitive fight and approach must be in conjunction with Green on the floor for the Warriors to ride the momentum they believe they’re building right now. It’s the only way to fight the narrative that matches the numbers, enjoying a win without this trend blossoming into something bigger.

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