Oct 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of game action between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown’s absence removed one of the Sixers’ most reliable scorers from the lineup. It did not leave their first-half offense dependent on one player.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting. LeBron James added 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Joel Embiid posted eight points, four rebounds and five assists, while VJ Edgecombe scored eight points on 4-for-5 shooting.
Together, they accounted for 46 of the Sixers’ 53 points in a 53-44 first-half lead.
Philadelphia also recorded 17 assists on 22 made field goals, with James and Embiid combining for 10. The Sixers shot 55 percent despite going 5 for 17 from three-point range, making 17 of their 23 attempts inside the arc.
Maxey supplied the scoring punch, converting six of his seven two-point attempts. James knocked down two threes after entering the night shooting 23.1 percent from deep. Embiid’s shot was not falling consistently, but he kept the offense moving as a facilitator. Edgecombe found openings around the three stars and made all four of his shots inside the arc.
That collective production was especially valuable with Brown sidelined by left patellar tendinopathy. Dean Wade replaced him in the starting lineup but did not attempt a shot in nearly 13 minutes.
Instead of asking one player to replace Brown’s production, the Sixers changed where their offense came from. Maxey attacked. James scored and distributed. Embiid operated as a playmaker. Edgecombe capitalized on the space around them.
There was no shortage of individual creation, but the Sixers did not spend the half taking turns. It added up to one of Philadelphia’s cleanest offensive halves of the young season — even without one of its stars.