yahoo - 12/20/2025 4:56:14 AM - GMT (+2 )
The Knicks were unable to overcome 18 turnovers as they lost to the 76ers, 116-107, on Friday night at MSG.
It was the second of a back-to-back for New York and their third game in four days after their NBC Cup win on Tuesday. The Knicks suffered just their second loss at home this season and their six-game winning streak ended.
After Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson missed Thursday's game against the Pacers, all three returned to action on Friday and all contributed, but it just wasn't enough. Fatigue hit New York, especially Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, who both played against Indiana.
Despite outrebounding the Sixers, 61-42, the team hit a wall.
Here are the takeaways...-The Knicks had seven first-quarter turnovers against the Pacers, which led to their double-digit deficit. It was just a tad better on Friday, turning the ball over five times, as the Knicks and Sixers entered the second quarter tied at 29-29. The turnovers were negated by the Knicks shooting 57 percent from the field. And while Philly shot 41 percent, they had no answers for Tyrese Maxey, who returned to the lineup after missing the last two games. Maxey scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting (2 of 4 from three) while Dominick Barlow added nine points to help lead the 76ers lead for most of the opening frame.
-With Brunson and Hart on the bench for the first half of the second, the lineup of KAT, Mikal Bridges, Tyler Kolek, Anunoby and Robinson provided elite defense to help the Knicks take the lead. Robinson in particular had a pair of big blocks and went 3-for-4 at the free throw line to score seven of his nine points in the frame, setting his season-high for a game.
It was a back-and-forth quarter but an and-one three from Brunson in the final minutes helped the Knicks take a 59-57 lead into halftime. Philadelphia dominated from three, hitting 9 of 25 threes in the first half, while the Knicks were just 4-for-17 from downtown. However, without Joel Embiid (illness), the Knicks outrebounded the Sixers 35-19 through the first two quarters.
-Philly got out to a seven-point lead -- matching their game-high -- thanks to the three-point shot from everyone on the court and the Knicks lack of three-point makes. However, the Knicks would go on an 8-0 run thanks to a couple of threes and the Sixers missing their shots. It was back and forth from there even when Maxey took a seat for the final five minutes of the third. But rookie VJ Edgecombe took over offensively, making shots and facilitating.
In the waning minutes, it was Robinson who brought the Knicks back. The Sixers tried to hack-a-Mitch and the big man made them pay. He scored five points, and made a career-high six free throws (he finished 6 of 7 from the line). The Knicks could have taken a lead into the fourth, but mental lapses, turnovers and silly fouls allowed the Sixers to take an 88-87 lead, which could have been a bigger deficit if Philadelphia had capitalized on the Knicks' mistakes.
-The final frame was sloppy on both ends, but Philadelphia built a five-point lead with their efficient three-point shooting with eight minutes to go. Despite heroics from Robinson, fatigue hit the Knicks as the play of Maxey and Edgecombe overwhelmed New York.
The guards helped build a nine-point lead in the final minute as the Knicks fell 116-107.
-Kolek checked in to start the second quarter to a good ovation from the MSG crowd, but he picked up two quick fouls. Head coach Mike Brown stuck with the young guard and he settled down, but a couple of turnovers and a third foul put a damper on Kolek's night. He finished with two points on 1-for-3 shooting with two assists and two rebounds but turned the ball over four times and inflicted five personal fouls.
Anunoby had a rough shooting night. He went 1-for-9 (0-4 from three) for two points. He did provide elite defense and intangibles but the Knicks could have used his scoring in this one.
Brunson and Towns both finished with 22 points but the Knicks guard went 7-for-22 and 1 of 7 from three. Bridges added 21 points while Robinson had a season-high 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting and an improbable 7-for-8 at the line.
Game MVP: Tyrese MaxeyMaxey did it all for the Sixers. Whenever he was on the court, he was near-unguardable.
HighlightsThis no-look pass from Mikal 😮💨pic.twitter.com/0kgMAHy9RS
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 20, 2025
Too easy.
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 20, 2025
Brunson 🤝 Robinson pic.twitter.com/YnngUwJM3k
MITCH SAYS 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/ZjcCqUBXw7
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 20, 2025
What's nextMitch putback slam 😤 pic.twitter.com/FFjRX5pFJZ
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 20, 2025
The Knicks return to action on their home court for a Sunday night game against the Miami Heat. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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