The rivalry between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers has been the defining characteristic of the Eastern Conference of the NBA.
The two teams have committed fan bases and rich histories behind them, making their games very much looked-forward-to affairs.
Here, we take a look at the Knicks vs 76ers match player stats, breaking down significant performances and how they reflect on both sides.
Let’s have a look.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
Before taking a look at the current context, let’s look at the historical rivalry between both teams. The rivalry between the Knicks and 76ers is as old as the NBA itself, both teams played a crucial role in the league’s history.
Both franchises had their fair share of dominance in the league. The 76ers had legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Iverson, while on the other hand, the Knicks had players like Patrick Ewing and Walt Frazier.
Team Form and Expectations
Going into the game, both the Knicks vs 76ers match player stats had been on interesting trajectories. The 76ers have a great combination of stars including young players and they are performing well. With exceptional performance, they are one of the true contenders of the Eastern Conference.
When talking about the Knicks, we can say that they have a gritty fighting style under their head coach. They are eager to impress in the league and move up in the standings.
That is why fans were expecting a great encounter when these two teams would collide. A victory in the match could have strengthened their playoff hopes. Both teams were pinning their hopes on the offense and defensive solidity. However, the Knicks were trying to use their home-court advantage to throw the 76ers off their game.
Recent Matchups and Their Implications
When talking about Knicks vs 76ers match player stats in recent times, both teams have showcased great resolve. More often than not, the 76ers rely on the challenging performances of their all-star players. On the other hand, the Knicks lead on depth and defensive tactics.
In the last match, the Knicks edged ahead by 111-99 on November 12 at Madison Square Garden. However, this game wasn’t going to be an easy one for both teams. The 76ers were looking to exact revenge for the previous group-stage encounter. The game wasn’t as easy as it looked from the scoreline. Knocks dominated in the first half of the match, however, the 76ers took the lead in the third quarter.
Key Player Performances
Breaking down Knicks vs 76ers match player stats makes a lot of sense to provide a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.
From New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson: He has become an important player for the Knicks in a short time. He is averaging 7 assists per game and has a shooting efficiency of over 50% from the field.
Mikal Bridges: Mikal has been in good touch recently and performed well in that match as well. He accumulated 23 points for the team in an important match.
Josh Hard: Josh Hard also had a great score of 10 points. His exploits also included 17 rebounds and 12 assists.
Here is the complete scorecard of the New York Knick for that match.
| Players | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
| Mikal Bridges | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 9-19 | 5-10 | 0-0 | 3 |
| OG Anunoby | 17 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 6-16 | 3-10 | 2-2 | -2 |
| Jericho Sims | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 2-4 | -3 |
| Jalen Brunson | 38 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 45 | 14-22 | 3-6 | 7-9 | 7 |
| Josh Hart | 10 | 17 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 49 | 4-9 | 0-3 | 2-3 | 10 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 9 |
| Cameron Payne | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1 |
| Miles McBride | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 4-5 | 3-4 | 2-2 | 5 |
| Matt Ryan | DNP | |||||||||||
| Jacob Toppin | DNP | |||||||||||
| Ariel Hukporti | DNP | |||||||||||
| Landry Shamet | DNP | |||||||||||
| Tyler Kolek | DNP |
From Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey: As usual, Tyrese Maxey put up the most points. He scored 33 points, six rebounds, and six assists as well. The young guard from the Sixers has shown significant improvement in the past year or so.
Paul George: Paul George also contributed to the game with 33 points, 6 rebounds, and three steals.
James Harden: He is known for his scoring creativity and averages 22 points and 10 assists per game. He is an important player who is continuing to be a key player in the 76ers offense.
| Players | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
| Paul George | 26 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 9-20 | 3-8 | 5-5 | 4 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | 9 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 38 | 4-8 | 1-4 | 0-0 | -10 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 33 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 13-32 | 2-9 | 5-5 | -9 |
| Eric Gordon | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4-6 | 3-5 | 3-3 | -9 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 16 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 45 | 7-11 | 1-3 | 1-1 | -2 |
| Justin Edwards | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 4-6 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1 |
| Adem Bona | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 4 |
| Jeff Dowtin Jr. | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3-6 | 1-2 | 0-0 | -3 |
| Ricky Council IV | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -6 |
| Pete Nance | DNP | |||||||||||
| Andre Drummond | DNP | |||||||||||
| Reggie Jackson | DNP |
Also Read: How Many Periods in Basketball?
Key Moments of the Match
We have looked at the 76ers vs Knicks match player stats above. Now, let’s shift our focus to the key moments of the match. The Philadelphia 76ers gave their all to compete with an all-around Knicks team. The matchup was especially difficult due to the unavailability of Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Mikal Bridges from the Knicks also had a great time at the court and he was feeling the ball. In the first 12 minutes, he had 10 points and Jalen Brunson also collected nine points. It gave the Knicks a slight lead of 30-21 after the end of 12 minutes.
Even in the second quarter, Knick continued to mount pressure on the Sixers. However, Paul Geroge kept his team afloat in the third quarter. At one point, it looked like the Knicks were going to cruise to an easy victory in the game. However, Tyrese Maxey and Paul Geroge started talking about the game and made it more interesting.
In the fourth period, the game was very interesting when Maxey scored the final six points to send the match to overtime after having 109 each in regulation gameplay.
But the Sixers were not up to the mark when it came to finishing the game in the extra time. Jalen Brunson made an extra time count and the New York Knicks won by 125-119.
Matchup Implications
New York Knicks
The win was a statement victory for the Knicks against the 76ers, solidifying them as contenders for the Eastern Conference. The outings of Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were especially promising, as they both proved capable of leading the team at the moment. Josh Hard also had ongoing improvement in the game, which was good to see, as he contributed depth and scoring off the bench.
Philadelphia 76ers
Although losing, the 76ers were proving to be resilient and competitive, a sign of their ability to contend with elite teams. Maxey and Gerorge’s outings were encouraging and suggested their value to the franchise.
Conclusion
The 76ers vs. Knicks match player stats had a great outing and did not disappoint the fans. Top players like Maxey, Brunson, Bridges, and George contributed heavily to making this encounter a memorable one for the fans.
Both sides advance in the race to the playoffs after this game. They must have learned a valuable lesson from this game.
Read Next: 6 Tips for Making the Most Out of Your NBA Fan Experience
