LeBron James opens a record 24th season in Philadelphia. Can the champion Knicks beat his 76ers on Oct 20?

Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the defending-champion New York Knicks, 106-100, in both teams' season opener at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026. The game doubled as New York's championship ring ceremony, honoring the franchise's first title in 53 years, but the Knicks could not close out the win despite leading for much of the first half. Philadelphia seized control with an 11-0 run to close the third quarter, capped by a Maxey three-pointer at the buzzer, and held on down the stretch. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points but shot just 6 of 19 from the field as New York managed only 37.2 percent shooting overall. The night also marked debuts for two new 76ers: Jaylen Brown, acquired in the offseason, posted 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while LeBron James, opening his 24th NBA season in a Philadelphia uniform, added 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 for New York in limited minutes because of foul trouble. The loss spoiled the Knicks' banner-raising night in front of their own crowd. Community sentiment was heavily lopsided here: 88 percent predicted a Knicks win, making this one of the day's bigger upsets relative to expectations.