The Philadelphia 76ers edged the New York Knicks 98-93 at Wells Fargo Center, winning a grinding Atlantic Division battle behind Tyrese Maxey’s 29 points and Joel Embiid’s 22-point, 14-rebound double-double. The 76ers held New York to 41% shooting and made the decisive plays in the final three minutes.

A defensive struggle from the start

Both teams labored offensively in the first half, with Philadelphia taking a 47-44 lead into the locker room. The 76ers used Embiid as a defensive anchor, contesting shots at the rim and forcing the Knicks into tough mid-range attempts. New York stayed close through Jalen Brunson’s shot creation and Karl-Anthony Towns’ interior scoring, but neither team could build a double-digit advantage.

Paul George added 16 points for Philadelphia, including a pair of timely fourth-quarter jumpers. Brunson led New York with 25 points, while Towns finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. OG Anunoby contributed 15 points, but the Knicks went cold from beyond the arc in the closing minutes.

Key moments

• Philadelphia opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, turning a two-point deficit into a 84-78 lead.
• Brunson pulled New York within three with a driving layup at the 1:12 mark.
• Maxey answered with a pull-up jumper, and Embiid sealed the game with a blocked shot and two free throws in the final 20 seconds.

Standout performers

Maxey was Philadelphia’s most reliable offensive option, scoring 12 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter. Embiid’s presence altered New York’s attack all night, and his 14 rebounds helped the 76ers win the battle on the glass. George’s 16 points provided necessary spacing, while the Philadelphia bench delivered timely defensive minutes. For New York, Brunson and Towns carried the scoring load, but the Knicks shot just 8-of-30 from three-point range and missed several open looks late.

What the result means

The win moves Philadelphia to 3-1 and gives the 76ers an early statement against a division rival. Their defense has been a major storyline through the first week, and the Maxey-Embiid partnership remains the foundation of their title hopes. New York falls to 2-2 and will rue a missed opportunity in a game it led late in the third quarter. The Knicks remain a formidable contender, but their half-court offense stalled when Brunson was forced into contested pull-ups. Philadelphia’s ability to win a low-scoring game is a promising sign for a team with high expectations.