New York prevails over Philadelphia in NBA preseason clash

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The New York Knicks kicked off their NBA preseason campaign with a 99–84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 3, 2025, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Nearly four months after concluding its NBA playoff run, the retooled New York squad returned to action, pulling off a double-digit victory against the banged-up 76ers, who have yet to field the dynamic duo of Paul George and Joel Embiid.

Philadelphia’s bench did enough to keep pace with the Knicks after a 25-all deadlock in the first 12 minutes, but a demoralizing New York surge in the next two quarters ballooned its largest lead of the ballgame to 26 points.

It was a balanced scoring effort from the new-look Knicks, a preview of their offensive firepower that will be on display once they open their NBA regular season on Oct. 23 against Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The duo of Miles McBride and Mikal Bridges ignited a momentum-boosting 28–18 second-quarter outing, while Jordan Clarkson’s scoring display stood out in the third, steering New York to a 28–14 advantage.

Jalen Brunson, the team’s superstar guard, has yet to regain his shooting stroke after missing point-blank shots on eight attempts, but the deep and talented New York bench proved to be the difference-maker during the preseason clash.

Mitchell Robinson gave Knicks hopefuls more excitement after anchoring the paint, controlling the game with his efficient rebounding and disciplined defense in the shaded lane.

Despite only scoring seven markers, Robinson made up for it on the boards, pulling down 16 rebounds in just 18 minutes of playing time.

Top-scoring for New York in their Abu Dhabi win was McBride, who stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns added 11 markers and five boards, while Bridges chipped in 10 points built from two three-pointers.

On the other hand, the 76ers had a welcoming sight from their lottery pick, V.J. Edgecombe, who capped the game with 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Tyrese Maxey was the only star who suited up for Philadelphia, tallying 14 markers, while the trio of George, Embiid, and Kyle Lowry are still recovering from their respective injuries.