New York Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns commended the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers for their 98-93 win without All-Star Jaylen Brown in their NBA Cup matchup on Friday. Tyrese Maxey led with 27 points, and Anfernee Simons led the bench with 21 points for the 76ers. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Towns added 22 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, but it wasn't enough as New York came up short down the stretch.

After losing to the Knicks for the second time in 10 days, Towns stressed how his team has to learn from their pair of losses to the 76ers, per SNY Knicks.

“They're a great team. Obviously, you have arguably the greatest player of all time. We've got to bring our best. We've got to execute at a high level. And we've got to continue to use these games as a learning experience.”

Karl-Anthony Towns on the Knicks dropping their first two matchups with the 76ers

"They're a great team. Obviously you have arguably the greatest player of all-time. We've got to bring our best. We've got to execute at a high level" pic.twitter.com/5D9F8ntPu6

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 31, 2026

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The 76ers went on a 9-1 run in the final 90 seconds to close out the five-point win. Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks briefly led after Jalen Brunson's three gave them a one-point lead, but it didn't last long. VJ Edgecombe's three with 33.6 seconds left made it a two-possession game (94-90) before the Knicks failed to score a field goal in the final minute.

Brunson split a pair of free throws that could have made it a two-point game before LeBron James' layup put the Sixers up for good with only 11.9 seconds left. James finished with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including a pair of threes, nine rebounds, eight assists, one block, and one steal.