OG Anunoby scored 24 points and Josh Hart recorded a triple-double as the New York Knicks spoiled Joel Embiid’s season debut with a 111-99 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
In both teams’ first NBA Cup game this season — not to mention a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff series that New York won in six games — all five Knicks starters scored in double figures, as did Miles McBride with 15 points off the bench.
Hart finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson (18 points) and Mikal Bridges (14) were key contributors as well.
After missing six games due to a lingering knee injury and three more following a suspension for shoving a reporter, Embiid returned to the court in a competitive setting for the first time since the Olympics. He played 26 minutes and shot 2 of 11 from the floor, finishing with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds.
Paul George had 29 points and 10 rebounds to pace Philadelphia, while rookie Jared McCain pitched in 23 off the bench.
New York led 78-75 after three quarters before erupting for an 11-0 run to begin the final period.
Anunoby had two dunks during the key sequence and also found McBride for a 3-pointer as part of the run. Towns’ 15-foot jumper created an 89-75 lead with 8:14 to play.
McCain made three 3-pointers down the stretch to keep Philadelphia on the fringe of contention, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the team lost for the eighth time in 10 games this season.
George (11 points) and Towns (10) carried a heavy offensive load in the first quarter, which ended with New York ahead 27-25. Hart’s jumper at the second-quarter buzzer gave the Knicks a 54-50 lead at the break.
Brunson’s layup with about three minutes left in the third quarter gave the visitors a 76-68 cushion, but McCain scored five consecutive points and then found Embiid for a layup to pull the 76ers within 76-75. Two free throws by Brunson gave New York a three-point lead heading into the final period.
