LeBron James drives Sixers to 98-93 win over Knicks with go-ahead bucket
The 41-year-old guard finished with 20 points, eight assists, and nine rebounds in his best performance since joining Philadelphia.
By Jonathan Reed ·
LeBron James scored 20 points, dished out eight assists, and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 98-93 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night. The win came in an NBA Cup group game and marks the highest statistical output of James' season so far. He is currently 41 years old and is two months away from turning 42. This is his 24th professional season in the NBA.
James played a physical game against the defending champions. He posted up Mikal Bridges for a basket in the first half and blocked a shot by OG Anunoby in the third quarter. The Knicks built a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Sixers erased the deficit before the final minute.
With 1:10 left on the clock, James pulled up for the go-ahead basket. V.J. Edgecombe followed with a three-pointer from the corner to extend the lead to four points. James finished the game with a tip-in to secure the win. His performance nearly constituted a triple-double, a rare feat for a player of his age.
Coach Nick Nurse praised his star guard after the final buzzer. "He's been good," Nurse said, "but that was his best game for sure." The victory gives Philadelphia a 2-0 record against the Knicks this season. The Sixers previously defeated New York on opening night in New York. The team is now 5-1 on the season despite having its starting five together for only three games.
James tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the fifth-oldest player in NBA history to record a 20-point game. He joined the 76ers as a free agent this summer. He cited the chance to play with friends and the desire to compete for a championship as primary reasons for the move. He has already won four titles with three different teams: Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.
Joel Embiid struggled offensively, scoring only 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting. Tyrese Maxey provided the offensive spark for the Sixers, finishing with 27 points. Edgecombe also contributed crucial three-pointers down the stretch. The team's depth allowed them to overcome Embiid's rough night.
James described his role as a stabilizer for the young roster. "For me to be able to be a calming factor for our team, late game, it's just the experience that I have," James said. He added that his goal is to put teammates in the right position, whether he has the ball or not, and to talk them through the final minutes.
In the locker room after the game, Maxey arrived shirtless and needed a cover-up before speaking to reporters. James pulled a sleeveless 76ers shirt from his own locker and handed it to Maxey. It served as one more assist for the veteran guard on his best night with Philadelphia.
