NEW YORK \u2014 The Sixers have had quite a sweet start to 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They finished a five-game road trip with a third consecutive victory Saturday night, earning a 130-119 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. <\/p>\n
The Sixers now stand at 19-14. New York fell to 23-12 with its second home loss this season to the Sixers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tyrese Maxey had 36 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. <\/p>\n
Joel Embiid posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. VJ Edgecombe recorded 26 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks.<\/p>\n
Jalen Brunson’s 31 points led the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had a 23-point, 14 rebound double-double.<\/p>\n
The Sixers\u2019 only two injury absences remained Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor sprain).<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re ready to move to 5-on-5 and we\u2019ve just got to get that done,\u201d Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame. \u201cI would imagine that\u2019s going to happen tomorrow, one way or the other. It\u2019s not easy with all these games and travel to organize it, but they\u2019re both ready to at least get out there and try 5-on-5. And when they do, that\u2019s probably a big step toward getting them back on the court. It should be fairly soon, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York was down Josh Hart (right ankle sprain) and Landry Shamet (right shoulder sprain).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here are observations on the Sixers’ win Saturday night: <\/p>\n
Another look at Embiid-Bona pair\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Sixers had the game\u2019s first three turnovers, including Embiid getting stripped by Mitchell Robinson in the post.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Embiid otherwise started well vs. Robinson, making an early mid-range jumper and beating the Knicks\u2019 7-footer inside on an and-one hoop. Robinson committed his second foul on the play. Embiid connected with a cutting Maxey for a lay-in that put the Sixers up 18-13.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nurse kept testing out the Embiid-Adem Bona frontcourt and the Sixers were effective with their double-big lineup in the second quarter. Bona rarely does much of note outside the paint, but it\u2019s clear why the Sixers have been intrigued by his skill set next to Embiid. At his best, the 22-year-old is a bouncy, high-energy player who doesn\u2019t need the ball on offense to be impactful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that whoever\u2019s playing that four, any of our bigs, we\u2019ve got to have shooting in the other three spots,\u201d Nurse said. \u201cThat\u2019s for sure. \u2026 Joel likes playing alongside (Bona). I think there\u2019s a good synergy there, so we\u2019ll continue to look at that as we go along.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edgecombe not slowing down as scorer <\/p>\n