NBA Cup 2026: Defending champ Knicks fall to Sixers, again, in first night of play

The New York Knicks opened their NBA title defense with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They began their NBA Cup title defense the same way on Friday. The first night of 2026 NBA Cup play saw the defending champions once again fall to Philadelphia, this time by a score of 98-93, despite the absence of Jaylen Brown due to patellar tendinopathy. They nearly pulled off a double-digit comeback in the fourth quarter, taking the lead at one point. However, the Sixers immediately responded with five straight points, capped off by a dagger from VJ Edgecombe. Tyrese Maxey led the...