The New York Knicks will commence their NBA Cup title defense on Friday night in Philadelphia against LeBron James and the 76ers, marking a rematch of the season's opening game.
In their previous encounter 10 days ago, the Knicks fell to the 76ers 106-100. That loss was attributed to a strong performance from Tyrese Maxey and James. The Knicks, currently holding a 2-3 record, enter Friday's matchup on a two-game winning streak, having defeated the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls. The 76ers, with a 4-1 record, are led by Maxey, who was recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
"We just need to obviously not do what we did [the last time we played them]," said Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who recently scored 38 points in the victory over the Bulls.
The Knicks are part of a challenging group in the NBA Cup, which also includes the Indiana Pacers (game on Nov. 13), Cleveland Cavaliers (Nov. 25), and Miami Heat (Nov. 27). The winner of each group automatically advances to the quarterfinals, with two wild card spots available across all six groups.
Last year, the Knicks won the inaugural NBA Cup, with the semifinals and finals held in Las Vegas. This year's tournament structure designates the home team's arena for the semifinals and the final will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana, a venue known for its historical significance in college basketball.
Separately, the Knicks are expected to decline the team option for Pacôme Dadiet for next season. The 21-year-old Frenchman, a 2024 first-round pick, has seen limited playing time this season, logging only one minute. His career averages stand at 1.6 points per game on 33 percent shooting. Declining the $5.4 million option will make Dadiet a free agent in the summer. ESPN reported that the Knicks are likely to let his option expire before the Saturday deadline.
For Friday's game, 76ers star Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable due to knee soreness. Joel Embiid and LeBron James are not on the injury report.