Brunson scores 31 points to lift the Knicks over Embiid and the 76ers, 112-109

Brunson scores 31 points to lift the Knicks over Embiid and the 76ers, 112-109 | iNFOnews.ca
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, center, goes up for the shot as New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson, left, and Miles McBride, right, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 31 points, OG Anunoby added 23 and the New York Knicks followed their most lopsided win in franchise history with a 112-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

The Knicks crushed the Nets 120-66 on Wednesday and then exploded with a 30-point third quarter in a stiffer road test that sent them to their first win in three tries this season over the 76ers.

Joel Embiid had 38 points and 11 rebounds, but turned the ball over on the final play of the game after the Knicks seemingly tried to intentionally foul him. Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points for the Sixers but shot an airball on a late tying 3-point attempt from near halfcourt as he anticipated an intentional foul that didn’t come.

The 76ers had pulled within two late until Anunoby and Landry Shamet followed with consecutive 3s that helped the Knicks stave off the late-game collapse.

Led by Brunson, the Knicks opened the quarter on a 21-7 run and made Philly sound a bit like the inside of Madison Square Garden. The “Let’s go Knicks!” chants that had largely been tamped down by boos in a competitive first half, instead filled the arena with each big Knicks bucket.

Brunson gave a little wave after he buried a 3 for an 84-72 lead. Embiid tried to rally the Sixers and his three-point play in the fourth — aided by a sixth foul on Karl-AnthonyTowns — cut it to 98-92.

It wasn’t enough and a Knicks team that had lost nine of its previous 11 games heading into the Nets game has now won two straight. Modest, yes, but good enough to ensure the Sixers didn’t gain ground on them in the East standings.

Embiid played a season-high 46 minutes in an overtime win over Houston on Thursday and followed with 28 points on 10-of-12 shooing in the first half Saturday.

He never looked more like his old self this season than when he barreled down the lane and hammered a one-handed dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Embiid has scored at least 30 points in four straight games and has reached 20 in a season-high 16 straight games.

Up next

Knicks: Host Sacramento on Tuesday.

76ers: Visit Charlotte on Monday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Brunson scores 31 points to lift the Knicks over Embiid and the 76ers, 112-109 | iNFOnews.ca
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, center, goes up for the shot over Philadelphia 76ers’ Paul George, left, and VJ Edgecombe, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Brunson scores 31 points to lift the Knicks over Embiid and the 76ers, 112-109 | iNFOnews.ca
New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns, right, goes up for the shot as Philadelphia 76ers’ Adem Bona, center, fouls him with VJ Edgecombe, left, defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Brunson scores 31 points to lift the Knicks over Embiid and the 76ers, 112-109 | iNFOnews.ca
New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson, center, tries to pass the ball with Philadelphia 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr., right, and Quentin Grimes, left, defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Brunson scores 31 points to lift the Knicks over Embiid and the 76ers, 112-109 | iNFOnews.ca
Philadelphia 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr., left, tries to regain control of the loose ball as New York Knicks’ Miles McBride, center, and Jalen Brunson, right, defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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