Knicks Out-Coached, Out-Played, Out-Refereed. Philadelphia 130 NY 119

January 4, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
OG slam. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks were out-coached, out-played, out-shot, and out-refereed in a 130-119 loss to the Philadelphia 76’ers on a Saturday night at Madison Square Garden — NY’s 3rd loss in a row.

Philly came out better prepared to win, and their coach Nick Nurse seemed more aggressive on the night in even using the coaches’ challenge than NY’s Mike Brown. Philly came out with a stifling defense and an offense led by Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe who were too quick for the Knicks to handle — and when NY did handle them, they hit 3’s from the parking lot.

And the referees ‘let them play’ except when anyone came close to touching Joel Embiid who kept going to the free throw line early in the game while Karl-Anthony Towns was being hammered underneath on the other end with no calls. That helped to put the Knicks in a deficit — although the refs ‘made up for it’ late, granting an abundance of calls to KAT and Jalen Brunson in the 4th quarter that allowed the Knicks to get back in the game. 

Philly had a 10- to 12-pt lead all night then increased it to 19 pts late in the 3rd quarter before the Knicks pulled within 7 with 2 minutes left — and that was the closest they got.

Tyrese Maxey put on a show with 36 pts on 14-22 shooting (6-9 from 3), while VJ Edgecombe had 26 pts on 10-16 shooting (4-9 from 3), and Embiid had 26 pts on 9-15 shooting (8-12 in free throws). Paul George added 15 (with 3-5 from 3) and Quentin Grimes had 10 off the bench.

Jalen Brunson shone for NY with 31 pts on 10-21 shooting (2-4 from 3, and 9-12 in free throws) and KAT ended up with 23 pts on 6-16 shooting (0-5 from 3, 11-12 in free throws). OG Anunoby played well (19 pts on 6-11 shooting, 3-5 from 3), Miles McBride added 20 pts off the bench (6-9 shooting, 5-7 from 3), but Mikal Bridges had another sub-par offensive evening (12 pts on 5-14 shooting, 2-8 from 3). Mitchell Robinson played for the first time in a week but picked up quick fouls guarding Embiid; Mitch played 19 minutes with 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 fouls. Josh Hart was still out for NY.

“Right now, we’re not as physical as we should be at the point of attack,” said Knick coach Mike Brown afterwards. “We’re not navigating the ball screen like we should be at the point of attack, a lot of times.”

“I think we’re just not playing fast enough,” said Mikal Bridges. “That’s on everybody. I think we’ve just got to know what we’ve got to do spacing-wise. We know we should, but I think we’re just either not thinking or taking too long to think to what we have to get into. That’s been our problem.”

NY falls to 23-12; Philly improves to 19-14.

1. Close Game After 1 Quarter

There was ridiculously bad officiating to start this game. Brunson was called for foul a minute into the game when he had all ball swiping it away from Dominick Barlow, while on the next play KAT was mauled on the other end with no call, then OG then made incidental contact on a Barlow drive as the ball went the other way — and a foul was called.

That’s the way the night started for NY. As the evening progressed it was apparent the refs were ‘letting them play’– except when Embiid had the ball.  The referees were Marc Davis, Jenna Schroeder, and Nate Green.

It was a close game early — as the Knicks continued to get red hot 3-pt shooting from Miles McBride off the bench — he came in with 6 minutes left in the quarter and immediately hit two 3’s, then followed with an assist to Brunson for a 3.

With Josh Hart still out, Kevin McCullar Jr. came off the bench late in the quarter and hit a 3 to give NY a 30-25 lead.

But Philly rallied back in the final 2 minutes — Jabari Walker with a drive, Adem Bona with a bucket, and Tyrese Maxey with a drive for a Philly 31-30 lead after 1.

2. Knicks Out Coached

Philly seemed better prepared than NY — coming out with aggressive defense and more energy, and maintaining that defense and energy throughout the evening.

NY even seemed slow from the bench — as at one point Joel Embiid tripped his own player but the refs called the foul on Miles McBride — and Mike Brown didn’t challenge although the replay showed it clear as day. Meanwhile Toronto Coach Nick Nurse seemed engaged from the edge of his seat all night — using the challenge call to its max.

3. Edgecombe & Maxey Open Up Lead for Philly in 2nd

VJ Edgecombe hit two 3’s early in the 2nd quarter, and then an Edgecombe drive and Jared McCain 3 put Philly up 46-38.

Tyler Kolek came in and played well for NY — a Kolek 3 pulled NY back within 46-41.

But Edgecombe responded with a 3 and then Tyrese Maxey went nuts with a drive, a steal off OG and a drive, and then later on a couple of 3’s and Philly opened up a 61-50 lead.

Jalen Brunson gallantly countered with a drive and a 3 — Philly had a 66-58 lead at the half.

4. Maxey Goes Nuts to Push Philly Lead to 19 in 3rd

Tyrese Maxey continued to punish the Knicks in the 3rd quarter with super quick drives and 3’s from the parking lot, helped by Edgecombe with his drives — and when NY shut off their lanes — Paul George would stick a 3 or a jumper as Philly rang up a 19-pt lead.

5. NY Pulls to Within 9 Pts Early in 4th But Philly Has Answers

NY trailed by 12 — 99-87 — going into the 4th — and finally KAT started to get some calls on his drives inside — as if the refs were looking to make amends.

But Philly was in command with a double-digit lead and no matter what the Knicks did, Philly had an answer.

Finally with 3 minutes left, Miles McBride hit back-to-back 3’s and OG Anunoby incredibly drew a foul call and made 2 free throws to pull NY within 7 — 121-114 — with 2:08 left. But a Maxey free throw, and then a Paul George offensive rebound and bucket by Quentin Grimes made it Good Night NY.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810342

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*