76ers rally past Knicks 106-100 as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown debut

NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers sent an opening-night message they’ll be a contender for the New York Knicks’ NBA title after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, rallying for a 106-100 victory Tuesday.

Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points and Brown had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his first game since being acquired from Boston. James began his NBA-record 24th season by finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

The 76ers got three 3-pointers from Anfernee Simons and two from fellow newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, as the reserves took advantage of the open looks they got when the Knicks were caught focusing too much on the bigger names.

Jalen Brunson scored 21 points but the NBA Finals MVP shot just 6-for-19 from the field.

Brunson told fans inside Madison Square Garden in a pregame ceremony when the Knicks raised their NBA championship banner and received their rings that: “The joy that this city had this summer, we would love to replicate that again.”

Maybe they can, but they will have to play a lot better than they did Tuesday in shooting 37% overall and 33.3% on 3s. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 12 rebounds.

PISTONS 121, CELTICS 113

DETROIT (AP) — Javonte Green scored 19 points after not playing in the first half and Cade Cunningham finished with 22 points and eight assists, helping Detroit come back and beat Boston.

The NBA picked the matinee matchup to tip off the season and it delivered plenty of entertainment.

Paul George scored 38 points, the most by a Celtic in his debut. The nine-time All-Star, in his 17th season, showed he’s still got it in his first game with Boston since it acquired him from Philadelphia in exchange for 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

Jayson Tatum, though, was off his game.

He missed 17 of 23 shots had 13 points and 11 assists. His lack of hustle on defense allowed Green to take his time for a fifth 3-pointer that gave the Pistons a 13-point lead with 3:33 left.

Tatum, a six-time All-Star, is set to play his first full season since tearing his Achilles tendon in May 2025.

Boston took its biggest lead early in the third quarter at 72-50 after George made three 3-pointers in less than a minute.

Detroit cut its deficit to six points after three quarters and surged ahead in the fourth. Green made a go-ahead 3, Duren added a three-point play and Robinson connected on a 3 to put the Pistons ahead 107-99 with 5:10 to go.

Jalen Duren had 22 points and nine rebounds, Duncan Robinson scored 21 points — making 5 of 9 3-pointers — and Ausar Thompson added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons.

Boston’s Derrick White and Payton Pritchard scored 17 points apiece.

THUNDER 116, SPURS 104

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and Oklahoma City opened its season with a victory over San Antonio, the team that ended its dreams of a title defense last season.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama had 12 points but was 1 for 13 from the field. It was his fewest field goals since going 2 for 5 against Minnesota on May 10. Wembanyama’s lone field goal came on an alley-oop pass from De’Aaron Fox as time expired in the third quarter. Wembanyama missed his first 12 shots, including having an alley-oop attempt blocked by 7-foot-3 rookie Aday Mara.

Jared McCain added 20 points on 6-for-8 shooting on 3-pointers as Oklahoma City led for all but the opening five minutes of the game.

The Spurs beat the Thunder 111-103 in Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30 in their previous matchup.

Nearly five months apart did not cool this heated rivalry.

Three minutes into the second quarter Fox received a Flagrant Foul 1 for tossing Chet Holmgren to the court after they became entangled in the paint. The body slam led to a huge scrum with Wembanyama and Jaylin Williams having to be separated after pushing each other. Wembanyama, Williams, Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams each received a technical for the dust up.