Jalen Brunson, Knicks spoil Kyle Lowry's 76ers debut with Spike Lee watching in Philly

Jalen Brunson had a big game for the Knicks, scoring 21 points and 12 assists, spoiling Kyle Lowry's Philadelphia debut.

Jalen Brunson, former Villanova All-American, was greeted with "MVP!" chants and signed autographs for fans wearing his old college jersey as he played for the New York Knicks. The cheers for the Knicks and their team colors inside the arena made it seem like a stand-in for Madison Square Garden. Brunson had 21 points and 12 assists, and the Knicks spoiled Kyle Lowry's Philadelphia debut with a 110-96 win over the 76ers on Thursday night.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points, Josh Hart had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Precious Achiuwa added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks as they made 18 of 34 3-pointers. All-Star Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 35 points, but had little offensive help in MVP Joel Embiid's absence.

Lowry, a six-time All-Star and former Villanova player, received a standing ovation when he checked in for the first time since signing with the Sixers. However, his homecoming was short-lived as he took an inadvertent elbow to the face and had to leave the game to receive stitches. He returned with an adhesive bandage on his forehead in the third quarter.

The Knicks, playing without OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, built a 26-point lead and added to their cushion in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks are fourth at 34-22, while the 76ers are 32-23 -- including 6-15 without Embiid.

New York coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized the urgency of getting players back and being ready to compete at a high level. Despite this, the crowd cheered for the trio of former Villanova stars, Brunson, Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, who scored 16 points in the game. However, DiVincenzo did have a few mishaps during the game, including a missed dunk and chasing off a broom sweeper when he turned a midcourt steal into a bucket.

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