76ers Beat Champion Knicks 106-100 in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown's Debuts

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the defending NBA champion New York Knicks 106-100 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden on the night the Knicks raised their championship banner, in the first game for newly acquired stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, according to The Associated Press and the official NBA box score.

How the game unfolded

Before tipoff, the Knicks raised their championship banner and received their rings. NBA.com described the banner as one "53 years in the making." Addressing the crowd, Finals MVP Jalen Brunson said, "This is unbelievable. This is really a dream come true," and added that "the joy the city had this summer" was something the team "would love to replicate," according to NBA.com's Starting 5 recap.

New York built a 10-point lead in the first half behind 15 points from Brunson, according to NBA.com. Philadelphia cut the gap to four by halftime, then closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run that ended with a buzzer-beating fallaway 3-pointer from Brown. NBA.com reported that the 76ers never trailed again and answered a late Knicks push with a 10-5 closing run, with Tyrese Maxey, James, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe scoring all 10 of Philadelphia's points in that stretch.

The box score

Maxey led all scorers with 28 points, adding five assists, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks, according to the Basketball-Reference box score. Brown, acquired from the Boston Celtics, finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 7-of-14 shooting. James, opening what the AP noted is his NBA-record 24th season, had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Embiid posted 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Philadelphia's bench also contributed. Anfernee Simons scored 13 points with three 3-pointers, and fellow newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 10 points with two 3-pointers. The AP reported that the reserves benefited from open looks while the Knicks focused on the 76ers' bigger names.

For New York, Brunson scored 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Josh Hart added 14 points and seven rebounds, and newcomer Andre Drummond finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, according to Bleacher Report. The AP reported that the Knicks shot 37% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range.

Shooting and defense

Philadelphia made 11 of 40 3-point attempts, or 27.5%, according to the box score. NBA.com reported that the 76ers held New York to 42 points in the second half, and that James, Embiid, Brown and Maxey combined for 24 assists, more than the Knicks' team total of 21.

"I love the way we played," James said after the game, according to NBA.com. "I think we played exceptionally well, especially on defense. Didn't shoot the ball well, but we have capable shooters. We know that. So good win for our team."

Elsewhere on opening night

In Tuesday's other games, the Detroit Pistons rallied from 22 points down to beat the Boston Celtics 121-113, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-104 behind 32 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, NBA.com reported. Twenty-two teams were scheduled to open their seasons Wednesday night.