The Philadelphia 76ers ended the New York Knicks’ six-game winning streak with a 116-107 victory at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 30 points and VJ Edgecombe adding 23.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown highlighted turnovers as the deciding factor. “We had 18 turnovers for 16 points compared to their 11 for two points. The game was lost in the turnover game,” he said. Brown added, “Give Philly a lot of credit. They got up into us, and it bothered us a little bit.”
Brown also reflected on the impact of spacing and offensive execution. “Our spacing wasn’t great all the time. Normally we get into the play after the play, but we were a little slow getting into our actions. When we didn’t get our cuts in our offense, we struggled,” he explained.
The coach noted the physical pressure from Philadelphia’s guards disrupted the Knicks’ rhythm. “They pushed the pace with Maxey and VJ attacking the rim. They held us, and knocked us off our routes. We never set any really good screens,” Brown said.
Managing player fatigue was another challenge. “These guys are human, but we try to pride ourselves on being a no excuse team. Tonight we didn’t, and chalk it up as a learning experience,” he said, acknowledging the team’s condensed schedule with three games in three days.
Brown also discussed individual performances, including Mitch Robinson’s improvement at the free-throw line. “Mitch has bought into what they’re working on. Anytime you see positive results, it breeds confidence for the individual and the team. It was good for him tonight,” he said.
On OG Anunoby, Brown noted, “He had a couple of great looks from the three-point line and was aggressive on drives. It’s a weird game—he couldn’t get to the free throw line despite attacking the rim.”
Brown gave minutes to younger players to gain experience. “I wanted to play Mo a little bit more tonight. His length and ability to defend at a high level make him ready for a few minutes here and there. If he can play extended minutes, we’ll keep him out there,” he said.
The coach reflected on the defensive challenges posed by Jalen Brunson. “When you have to guard him, you’re going to be up. Young guys want to show they’re at a level, and they tried to make it difficult for him. Usually, he creates space and gets a shot off. It’s whether he makes it or misses it,” Brown said.
Philadelphia improved to 15-11 with the win and will host Dallas on Saturday. The Knicks fell to 19-8 and will host Miami on Sunday, with turnovers and Philadelphia’s defensive pressure proving decisive in the matchup.
