Sixers face Knicks in double-counted opener

Philadelphia Sixers fans will watch two scoreboards in their heads Friday night. The game against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena counts toward the regular-season record. It also kicks off Group Play for the fourth annual NBA Cup. Every point and every win in this four-game segment carries extra weight for a team trying to secure a playoff spot and a tournament berth.

The NBA Cup divides all 30 teams into six groups of five. The Sixers share East Group B with the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. Each team plays every other member in its group once. Philadelphia hosts two of these games and travels for the other two. The three group winners from each conference advance to the eight-team Knockout Rounds. One wild card from each conference, determined by the best Group Play record among second-place teams, also moves on.

The Sixers have never advanced past this initial stage in the tournament's history. They finished 2-2 in 2023 and 2024. Last season, they went 1-3. Their only win came in the final Group Play game against Brooklyn after losses to Boston, Detroit, and Orlando. The Knicks occupy the opposite end of the spectrum. They won last season's Cup and then went on to win the NBA championship. Jalen Brunson was named Cup MVP after averaging 33.2 points in six tournament games.

The Sixers defeated the Knicks 106-100 on opening night of the regular season. That victory came despite a four-point halftime deficit. Philadelphia's defense limited New York to 37 percent shooting from the field. Brunson struggled, finishing with 21 points on 6-for-19 shooting. The Sixers scored 24 fast-break points and converted 14 turnovers into 22 points. Tyrese Maxey led the team with 28 points, including 12 in transition.

New York has adjusted since that loss. The Knicks started their season 0-3 with defeats to Boston and Orlando. They have since won consecutive games against Detroit and Chicago. Brunson found his range during this stretch. He went 4-for-20 from three-point range in his first four games. On Wednesday, he made six of 10 three-point attempts for 38 points and seven assists in a 133-127 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Philadelphia also enters Friday in a different spot. The Sixers are 4-1 following a 114-109 win over the Pacers on Wednesday. Four players scored at least 20 points in that game, and three recorded double-doubles. Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable due to left knee soreness. He has played in all five of Philadelphia's games this season. James Harden and Joel Embiid are not on the injury report. Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, Tacko Fall, and Ariel Hukporti remain out for Philadelphia. New York backup guard Jose Alvarado is out with a left ankle sprain.

The Group Play schedule for the Sixers is tight. They play the Knicks on Friday. They visit the Cavaliers on Friday, Nov. 6. They host the Heat on Wednesday, Nov. 25. They finish the group slate by visiting the Pacers on Friday, Nov. 27. There is little room for error because each team only plays four games in this segment. Head-to-head records serve as the first tiebreaker. Point differential and total points scored are the subsequent tiebreakers.

A new rule affects overtime games. If a Group Play game goes beyond regulation, the result still counts for the standings. However, the teams receive a point differential of zero for tiebreaking purposes. Points scored in overtime are removed from the total-points tiebreaker. This rule may encourage teams to continue playing aggressively late in games that appear decided, as every point matters more than usual.

The Knockout Rounds begin on Dec. 4 and 5 with the Quarterfinals. The Semifinals follow on Dec. 8 and 9. These games are played at the higher seed's home arena. The championship is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. All Cup games count toward the regular-season standings except the final. Players on teams that reach the Knockout Rounds receive prize money that increases with each round. The league will also select a Cup MVP and an All-Tournament Team.

A win Friday gives the Sixers the head-to-head advantage over the defending champions. It also keeps them in the hunt for a group spot in a race where every result carries additional weight for the tournament standings.