VJ Edgecombe scored seven points down the stretch, guiding the visiting Philadelphia 76ers to a 116-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 30 points and nine assists, while Edgecombe supplied 23 points. Andre Drummond chipped in with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers, who were outrebounded 57-36 without Joel Embiid (illness). Philadelphia won for the fifth time in seven games.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns provided 22 points apiece for the Knicks. New York had won its previous six games (in addition to the NBA Cup championship game, which doesn’t count toward the regular-season standings) and had been 13-1 at home this season.
Mitchell Robinson set season highs with 21 points and 16 rebounds for New York, shooting 7-for-8 from the field and 7-for-8 from the foul line. He entered the game 6-for-27 (22.2%) from the free-throw line this season.
With Philadelphia holding a 103-100 lead and under four minutes left, Edgecombe made a contested jumper and a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions. The rookie added a follow slam off a miss by Maxey with 1:38 to play, giving the Sixers a 113-105 lead.
Towns’ long jumper cut the Knicks’ deficit to six. However, Edgecombe dove for a loose ball on the other end and passed to Jared McCain, who found Maxey for a game-clinching 3-pointer.
Maxey scored 10 points during a first quarter that ended with the teams tied at 29-29. New York shot 57.1% in the quarter but also committed five turnovers.
The Knicks’ shooting fell off in the second quarter, as they went 1-for-9 from 3-point range and hit 41.7% overall. Brunson scored 10 points in the period, including six in the final 90 seconds as the hosts took a 59-57 lead into the locker room.
The Sixers moved in front 72-65 early in the third quarter before Mikal Bridges made back-to-back 3-pointers and Towns knocked down one of his own to fuel an 11-2 run by New York.
Philadelphia led 88-87 after three quarters, but New York was up by one early in the final period before McCain and Maxey swished 3-pointers on consecutive trips as the momentum started to shift toward the visitors.
