Knicks Fall Flat in Preseason Opener—but Jalen Brunson Offers a Reason to Smile

The Knicks lost 120-97 to the Sixers in their preseason opener, but Jalen Brunson’s shooting and key rotation auditions offered reasons to watch.

The New York Knicks opened their preseason with a 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, delivering an uneven performance marked by cold shooting and extensive lineup experimentation. For the defending champions, however, the most encouraging development came from Jalen Brunson.

Playing after offseason wrist surgery, Brunson knocked down two first-quarter three-pointers. Those makes offered a welcome early sign as New York began working its way back into rhythm.

Head coach Mike Brown used 20 players, making this opener an opportunity to evaluate depth, young talent and roster candidates. The result exposed plenty of rust, but several individual performances deserved a closer look.

Brunson Provides Encouragement as Knicks Struggle From Deep

New York’s willingness to launch from beyond the arc was evident immediately. The accuracy needed to support that approach never arrived.

The Knicks finished 8-for-41 from three-point range, shooting just 19.5%. That inefficiency became increasingly costly after a competitive opening quarter, which ended with Philadelphia holding a narrow 33-32 advantage.

Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored eight points in the first period, while Landry Shamet supplied two early three-pointers. Karl-Anthony Towns attacked inside, giving New York another route to offense when perimeter possessions stalled.

Philadelphia created separation in the second quarter. Jaylen Brown led the way with 22 first-half points, helping the Sixers reach halftime ahead 72-58. Anunoby paced the Knicks with 12 points at the break.

The gap in outside shooting told much of the story: Philadelphia made 11 first-half threes, compared with five for New York.

Brunson’s early touch remained a positive, although one brief preseason appearance offers only a limited picture of his progress following surgery.

Diawara, Drummond and Wiseman Give Mike Brown Plenty to Evaluate

With the established starters receiving limited action, the focus shifted toward players trying to strengthen their standing in the rotation.

Mohamed Diawara produced one of the more interesting stretches of the night. After an uneven first half that included two turnovers, he responded in the third quarter with consecutive finishes near the basket, a putback and a steal. His second-half activity showed how he can contribute when he plays decisively.

Andre Drummond also made his presence felt around the rim, recording three third-quarter blocks. His interior defense was a useful contribution during a period in which both teams struggled to build offensive momentum.

James Wiseman supplied finishes inside and points at the foul line as he pursued a roster opportunity. His defensive reactions were less convincing, leaving room for improvement as the preseason continues.

Elsewhere, Tyler Kolek took on ball-handling responsibilities but occasionally appeared to force his offense. Pacome Dadiet showed defensive aggression, while his shooting and foul management remained inconsistent. Jordan Clarkson also endured a difficult stretch, with missed attempts and two traveling violations interrupting possessions.

Brown continued evaluating his options deep into the fourth quarter. Jose Alvarado did not participate because of a bruised knee.

There was also concern for former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti, who left early after an injury and needed assistance reaching the locker room. The nature and severity of the injury were not confirmed in the supplied game account.

For New York, the opener’s value lies in what comes next. Better perimeter execution, sharper defensive positioning and more consistent contributions from the reserves will be priorities. The Knicks host the Washington Wizards on Thursday, with another opportunity to turn preseason minutes into clearer rotation answers.