Knicks Open NBA Cup Defense Against 76ers

The Knicks begin their defense of the NBA Cup title in Philadelphia, where they will face the 76ers at 7:30 p.m. EDT on October 30. Philadelphia won the teams’ regular-season opener, 106-100, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 28 points. LeBron James also played a key role in the finish, and New York’s Jalen Brunson said his team needed to avoid repeating its mistakes from that game.

New York heads into the matchup after back-to-back wins over Detroit and Chicago. Brunson scored 38 points against the Bulls on Wednesday, including six three-pointers, ending a recent shooting slump. Philadelphia enters with a 4-1 record, while the Knicks are 2-3.

The game opens group play for both teams in a group that also includes Indiana, Cleveland and Miami. The group winner earns a quarterfinal place, as do two wild-card teams. New York won last year’s tournament; this season’s semifinals are scheduled for the home arenas of the advancing teams, with the final at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana.

Philadelphia lists Jaylen Brown as questionable with knee soreness. Tacko Fall, Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow are out, while Joel Embiid and James are not on the injury report. New York guard Jose Alvarado is listed as day to day with an ankle issue. The 76ers play Charlotte on the road on October 31, the second game of a back-to-back.