By: Rechelle Tuares – Sports On Air Correspondent
The Philadelphia 76ers ended their Abu Dhabi preseason trip with a 112–104 loss to the New York Knicks, dropping both games of the series.
Philadelphia was without several key players, including Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain, and Trendon Watford, leaving younger contributors to carry the load. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 16 points, while rookie VJ Edgecombe added 8 points and showed flashes of confidence on both ends. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson paced a balanced scoring effort with 14 points, as New York’s depth proved decisive.
The Sixers started strong defensively but struggled with outside shooting, allowing the Knicks to capitalize on transition opportunities and build a 31–23 lead after the first quarter. OG Anunoby hit key three-pointers in the second quarter, while Edgecombe’s chase-down block on Jordan Clarkson stood out as one of Philadelphia’s few highlights. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker provided energy and rebounding, but New York maintained a 59–47 halftime edge.
Kennedy Chandler handled point guard duties in the third quarter, and Edgecombe impressed with a backdoor-cut dunk assisted by Justin Edwards. However, the Knicks’ bench — led by Andre Drummond and Malcolm Hill — extended the lead. Hill later added 14 points, hitting timely shots in the fourth quarter to keep Philadelphia at bay.
Despite a spirited effort from the young Sixers, the Knicks’ superior depth and shooting closed out the win. Philadelphia now returns home to regroup and prepare for its next preseason matchup against the Orlando Magic as it looks to refine its rotations before the regular season begins.
