Game ID: 22500487
Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks
Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 30 28 29 32 119PHI 31 35 33 31 130
NYK vs PHI ScoutingNYK vs PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NYK availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 6 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 14 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Clarkson 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 7 since 12/09, returns tonight: 18 min (78% of 24)
OUT Shamet missed 15 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 16 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 18 min since (78% of 24)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 17 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 22 min since (94% of 24)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Hart missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 18 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 3 since 12/29, returns tonight: 19 min (103% of 18)
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 25 min since (106% of 24)
NEW Kolek 11 to 18 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 19 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 26 min since (112% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (103% of 18)
NYK availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 6 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 20 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 26 min since (111% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 22 min since (119% of 18)
NYK availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 7 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 21 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 23 min since (124% of 18)
NEW McBride 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 8 since 12/27, returns tonight: 31 min (101% of 31)
OUT Shamet missed 22 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 23 min since (126% of 18)
NEW McBride 24 to 32 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 16 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Watford missed 11 since 11/28, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 12/19 after 2, 39 min since (103% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 12/23 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Bona back 12/19 after 3, 19 min since (118% of 16)
BACK Gordon back 12/23 after 7, 17 min since (139% of 12)
NEW Barlow 22 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW McCain 17 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 17 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Watford missed 12 since 11/28, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 12/19 after 2, 40 min since (103% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 12/23 after 2, 32 min since (100% of 32)
BACK Bona back 12/19 after 3, 16 min since (100% of 16)
BACK Gordon back 12/23 after 7, 17 min since (139% of 12)
NEW McCain 17 to 25 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 18 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Watford missed 13 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 12/19 after 2, 39 min since (102% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 12/23 after 2, 32 min since (100% of 32)
BACK Bona back 12/19 after 3, 19 min since (115% of 16)
NEW McCain 17 to 26 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 19 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Watford missed 14 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 12/23 after 2, 34 min since (106% of 32)
NEW McCain 17 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 20 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Watford missed 15 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 12/23 after 2, 34 min since (107% of 32)
PHI availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 21 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Watford missed 16 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Edwards missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 5 since 12/26, out tonight
PHI availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Oubre Jr. missed 22 since 11/17, returns tonight: 20 min (64% of 32)
OUT Drummond missed 2 since 1/03, returns tonight: 12 min (67% of 18)
OUT Watford missed 17 since 11/28, returns tonight: 5 min (32% of 15)
OUT Edwards missed 3 since 1/01, returns tonight: 6 min (40% of 15)
OUT Gordon missed 6 since 12/26, out tonight
NEW Grimes 28 to 34 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 7 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Oubre Jr. back 1/07 after 22, 20 min since (64% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/07 after 2, 12 min since (67% of 18)
BACK Watford back 1/07 after 17, 5 min since (32% of 15)
BACK Edwards back 1/07 after 3, 6 min since (40% of 15)
NEW Grimes 28 to 35 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 8 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Oubre Jr. back 1/07 after 22, 17 min since (55% of 32)
BACK Drummond back 1/07 after 2, 14 min since (78% of 18)
BACK Watford back 1/07 after 17, 5 min since (32% of 15)
BACK Edwards back 1/07 after 3, 6 min since (40% of 15)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Hart (4 straight), Shamet (18 straight), Robinson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Maxey at 27 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (20 straight), Watford (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34. Call it New York 120, Philadelphia 117, Philadelphia keeping it close.
12/27 @ ATL 128-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-125. NYK shot 45% (43 of 95) to ATL's 48%, 15 of 43 from three. The glass went 55-37 for them. Towns led with 36 (8 of 15, 3 of 6 from three, 17 of 18 at the line); Brunson added 34, Anunoby 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Robinson was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/29 @ NOP 130-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 130-125. NYK shot 48% (46 of 95) to NOP's 46%, 20 of 44 from three, and got to the line 19 times to NOP's 27. Brunson led with 28 (10 of 23, 5 of 10 from three); Anunoby added 23, Diawara 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-22: NYK came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 5. NYK trailed 72-75 at the half and won the second half 58-50. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/31 @ SAS 132-134 — NYK notes
NYK lost 132-134. NYK shot 48% (46 of 96) to SAS's 49%, 22 of 52 from three, and got to the line 20 times to SAS's 40. Brunson led with 29 (10 of 24, 5 of 12 from three); McBride added 21, Towns 20. Q1 was theirs, 45-36, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. They led by as many as 19. Anunoby's -25 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs ATL 99-111 — NYK notes
NYK lost 99-111. NYK took 9 more shots (97 to 88), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to ATL's 48%, 9 of 42 from three. Brunson led with 24 (10 of 23, 1 of 8 from three); Anunoby added 19, Bridges 18. Q4 was theirs, 29-17, the deficit cut from 24 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 94-70 against them. Clarkson's -15 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs PHI 119-130 — NYK notes
NYK lost 119-130. NYK shot 43% (38 of 89) to PHI's 54%, 16 of 40 from three, and went to the line 32 times to PHI's 23 — 27 points from the stripe to their 15. Brunson led with 31 (10 of 21, 2 of 4 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Towns added 23, McBride 20. Q4 was theirs, 32-31, the deficit cut from 12 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 99-87 against them. Bridges's -11 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Cunningham at 28 and Duren at 14 a game. Without Harris (2 straight), LeVert (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hart (5 straight), Shamet (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 12 and the defense, Detroit allowing 115 a night to New York's 125. Call it Detroit 119, New York 117, New York keeping it close.
1/07 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and McBride at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hart (6 straight), Shamet (20 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 36 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Bogdanović (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to New York's 124 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-1 a night and New York minus-6. Call it the Clippers 116, New York 115, New York keeping it close.
1/09 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Brooks at 19 a game. Without Green (27 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 17 a game. Without Hart (7 straight), Shamet (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 107 a night to New York's 121 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-2 a night and New York minus-3. Call it Phoenix 117, New York 112.
1/11 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Avdija at 31 and Sharpe at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Holiday (27 straight), Grant (12 straight), Henderson (39 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and McBride at 16 a game. Without Hart (8 straight), Shamet (22 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-1 a night and Portland minus-4 and the defense, Portland allowing 109 a night to New York's 117. Call it Portland 118, New York 112.
12/26 @ CHI 102-109 — PHI notes
PHI lost 102-109. PHI shot 38% (35 of 93) to CHI's 44%, 11 of 39 from three. Embiid led with 31 (10 of 19, 2 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Maxey added 27, George 15. Q2 was theirs, 24-19, turning a 2-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 90-78 against them. They led by as many as 11. Grimes's -21 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 @ OKC 104-129 — PHI notes
PHI lost 104-129. PHI shot 42% (35 of 83) to OKC's 57%, 17 of 43 from three. PHI turned it over 23 times to OKC's 13, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. Maxey led with 28 (10 of 18, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Grimes added 13, George 12. Q2 was theirs, 33-32, the deficit cut from 3 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 97-71 against them. Edgecombe's -23 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 @ MEM 139-136 — PHI notes
PHI won 139-136 in 1 overtime. PHI shot 46% (51 of 111) to MEM's 55%, 15 of 42 from three. PHI turned it over 8 times to MEM's 20. The glass went 41-51 against them. Maxey led with 34 (13 of 21, 4 of 7 from three); Embiid added 34, Edgecombe 25. The hinge was Q2, 38-32: PHI came in trailing by 6 and left it level. Grimes was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/01 @ DAL 123-108 — PHI notes
PHI won 123-108. PHI shot 53% (48 of 90) to DAL's 45%, 13 of 36 from three. Maxey led with 34 (14 of 24, 4 of 10 from three); Edgecombe added 23, Embiid 22. The hinge was Q2, 41-24: PHI came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 15. George was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/03 @ NYK 130-119 — PHI notes
PHI won 130-119. PHI shot 54% (49 of 90) to NYK's 43%, 17 of 36 from three, and got to the line 23 times to NYK's 32. Maxey led with 36 (14 of 22, 6 of 9 from three); Edgecombe added 26, Embiid 26. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 19. Edgecombe was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/05 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Maxey at 32 and Embiid at 28 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Oubre Jr. (21 straight), Watford (16 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Watson at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jokić (3 straight), Johnson (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been minus-1 a night and Denver minus-7. Call it Philadelphia 121, Denver 117, Denver keeping it close.
1/07 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Maxey at 32 and Embiid at 28 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (22 straight), Drummond (2 straight), Watford (17 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; McCollum at 20 and Sarr at 14 a game. Without George (6 straight), Watkins (4 straight), Cooper (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Washington allowing 116 a night to Philadelphia's 123. Call it Philadelphia 122, Washington 115.
1/09 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Bane at 17 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (13 straight), Suggs (3 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Embiid at 28 a game. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 15 times a game to Philadelphia's 11. Call it Orlando 119, Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/11 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (9 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 30 and Embiid at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 36 percent from three to Toronto's 31. Call it Toronto 115, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKGY G. Yabusele
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
KM K. McCullar Jr.
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
TK T. Kolek
PHIAB A. Bona
DB D. Barlow
JE J. Embiid
JM J. McCain
JW J. Walker
PG P. George
QG Q. Grimes
TM T. Maxey
VE V. Edgecombe
NYK/PHI the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Maxey scores 36 points and the 76ers win again in New York, beating the Knicks 130-119
NEW YORK -- — Tyrese Maxey scored 36 points, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe each had 26 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 130-119 on Saturday night for their third straight victory.
Paul George added 15 points and Quentin Grimes had 10 for the 76ers, who won at Madison Square Garden for the second time this season. Embiid also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Jalen Brunson scored 31 points for the Knicks, who have lost three straight for the second time this season. Karl-Anthony Towns , who returned after missing one game due to illness, added 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Deuce McBride scored 20 points, OG Anunoby had 19 and Mikal Bridges added 12 for New York.
The Knicks were ahead 30-25 when the 76ers scored the final six points of the first quarter and led 31-30.
Philadelphia increased its run to 9-0 when Edgecombe opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Anunoby and Jordan Clarkson put the Knicks back in front.
Trailing 38-37, the 76ers produced a 9-0 run and grabbed the lead for good. They went ahead by 13 before the Knicks scored the last five points of the second quarter and cut their deficit to 66-58 at halftime.
Embiid’s two free throws gave Philadelphia its largest lead at 96-77 with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter. The Knicks’ 10-3 run pulled them within 99-87 heading into the fourth.
Towns’ bucket opened the final quarter and his three-point play with 9:59 left brought the Knicks within 103-94.
The 76ers regained a 15-point lead, but Anunoby’s free throws with 2:08 left got the Knicks within 121-114.
Maxey's free throw, Grimes’ layup and Edgecombe’s jam followed and the Knicks never got any closer.