The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 106-100 on the opening night of the fourth annual NBA Cup. The victory gives Philadelphia a head-to-head advantage over the defending champions in East Group B. The Knicks entered the game as defending champions of both the NBA Cup and the NBA championship.
Philadelphia overcame a four-point halftime deficit by utilizing a defense that limited New York to 37 percent shooting from the field. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with a team-high 28 points, including 12 fast-break points. Philadelphia’s offense capitalized on 14 New York turnovers to produce 22 points and scored 24 total fast-break points.
New York’s Jalen Brunson, a former Cup MVP, finished the game with 21 points on 6-for-19 shooting. The Sixers’ defensive strategy involved switching matchups before ball screens between Brunson and Joel Embiid and applying extra pressure to Brunson. Philadelphia also relied on James to rotate behind the play. Following the loss to Philadelphia, New York started 0-3 with defeats against Orlando and Boston before winning consecutive games against Chicago and Detroit. Brunson shot 4 for 20 from three-point range in New York’s first four games, but he made six of 10 attempts Wednesday against the Bulls, finishing with seven assists and 38 points in a 133-127 win.
BRUNSON FOR THE LEAD.LEBRON PUTS PHILLY AHEAD.VJ MAKES IT A 4-POINT GAME.The Knicks and Sixers are battling with 32.6 to play in @emirates NBA Cup East Group B action! pic.twitter.com/DMSH60LRsA
NBA Cup Groups Feature 30 Teams
The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup features 30 teams randomly drawn into groups of five based on previous regular-season records. Each team plays four group-play games—two at home and two on the road. Every game in group play counts toward regular-season standings.
East Group B consists of the Sixers, Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. Every former Cup MVP is in this group, including LeBron James, who won with the Lakers in 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won with the Bucks in 2024, and Brunson. Following group play, four teams from each conference—three group winners and one wild card—advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds. Seeding is determined by record, with point differential serving as the tiebreaker. While some teams leave starters in blowouts to improve point differential, Nick Nurse indicated he would not do that.
Allen Iverson & Michael Vick courtside in Philadelphia! pic.twitter.com/Ew7QtoriGO
Prize Money Increases as Teams Reach Finals
Players on teams that reach the Knockout Rounds receive prize money that increases with each round. In the previous year, champions received $530,933 per player, runners-up received $212,373, semifinalists received $106,187, and quarterfinalists received $53,093.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
- Quarterfinals: Dec. 4 and 5
- Semifinals: Dec. 8 and 9 (played at the higher seed’s home arena)
- Championship: Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
The championship game is the only NBA Cup event that does not count toward regular-season records and statistics. The final is moving to Indianapolis after three years of semifinals and championship games in Las Vegas.
Upcoming Group Play Schedule
The Sixers’ remaining group games include November 6 at Cleveland, November 25 against Miami, and November 27 at Indiana. Other upcoming matchups include:
What a sequence by the Sixers capped off by a big-time slam from Tyrese Maxey 💪 https://t.co/O2l31rYYw9 pic.twitter.com/pPreHw1gXA
- Nov. 6: Toronto at Milwaukee, Utah at Dallas, Oklahoma City at Memphis, Minnesota at New Orleans, San Antonio at Sacramento, Portland at LA Lakers
- Nov. 13: Milwaukee at Orlando, New York at Indiana, Cleveland at Miami, Atlanta at Chicago, Memphis at New Orleans, Utah at Houston, Golden State at San Antonio, Portland at Sacramento, Oklahoma City at LA Clippers
- Nov. 20: Brooklyn at Milwaukee, LA Clippers at Memphis, Phoenix at Houston, San Antonio at Portland, Sacramento at Golden State
More on San Antonio
Brunson and Maxey arrive for tonight's showdown 😤🆚 NYK-PHI • East Group B🏆 @emirates NBA Cup I 7:30pm/et, Prime pic.twitter.com/y35lM7flkM
"Great win let's keep it going." – LeBron"Cup win really important one against a really talented team." – VJVibes are high as LeBron James and VJ Edgecombe walk off the floor after helping the Sixers pick up their first win in @emirates NBA Cup Group Play 🏆 pic.twitter.com/q2cGC6qIcf
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