Sixers hold off Knicks in NBA Cup thriller behind Tyrese Maxey' 27 points

Philadelphia — The Philadelphia 76ers are now  5-1 on the young season after a thrilling 96-93 victory against the New York Knicks. The Sixers were led by 27 points by Tyrese Maxey, 21 from Anfernee Simons and some group clutch play to seal the win.

Philadelphia is now 2-0 against the Knicks and 1-0 in NBA Cup's group play.

Here's what stood out.

Sixers finally find their offensive flow

It was an excellent start on both ends for Joel Embiid, particularly as a distributor. To open the game, the Sixers looked to set him up at his favorite spot at the nail, where he looked to apply early pressure to Towns, as he managed in their first matchup.

From there, the team looked to run its offense with purpose through LeBron/Embiid actions, which helped generate some catch-and-shoot looks for Tyrese Maxey. Creating off-ball looks for Maxey was a priority entering this season, but the Sixers have largely struggled to do so. They did a far better job Friday night.

The offense remained well-oiled into the second quarter as Tyrese Maxey led a three-guard unit comprised of Anfernee Simons, Adem Bona, Dean Wade and rookie Labaron Philon. The quality and unselfishness of the Sixers' ball movement were refreshing, and the rhythm was only occasionally disrupted by an unforced error here and there. Largely, the Sixers had their most complete opening half of the season, which was particularly impressive considering Jaylen Brown’s absence.

Maxey was particularly able to feast, seeing a perfect blend of on- and off-ball opportunities. His 18 points led the Sixers in the first half, and he scored the first five points of the second half, forcing an early Knicks timeout.

New York enjoyed a quick run in the third, as a smaller-than-normal contingent of Knicks fans began to chant, only to be drowned out by the home crowd. The quarter was largely back-and-forth as Anfernee Simons erupted for 13 points.

The Knicks made a final push in the fourth and even took the lead late, but LeBron and VJ took turns knocking down clutch shots when the Sixers needed them the most and Maxey closed out the game at the line as Philadelphia walked away with the win.

Final thoughts

• Dean Wade scored zero points and had two rebounds and just one assist to speak of, but his defense was integral to the Sixers’ success. His three steals paced the Sixers, and he had OG Anunoby in Guantánamo for most of the night.
• Anfernee Simons is really finding his footing with Philly. With 21 points tonight, he proved a reliable source of offense off the bench and may have a shot at the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award if he can remain consistent. The difference in the Sixers’ offense when Simons is feeling his shot is noticeable, and the confidence they play with in those moments cannot be undervalued.
• As Simons continues to improve, Adem Bona remains a point of concern. Poor decision-making, unnecessary fouls and rough hands combine for a troubling cocktail of reserve center play. The Sixers have few immediate alternatives, but there will eventually come a point when they can no longer afford to overcome those mistakes.
• Labaron Philon plays with an impressive amount of control for a rookie. It’s no wonder his head coach has continued to praise him. Philon got some run at the start of the second quarter as part of the Sixers’ three-guard lineup that proved fairly effective, even with Maxey being the lone star in the lineup. While the Sixers need an influx of size, they have plenty of needs — despite their star-studded roster — that Philon can help address.

Up next for the Sixers

The Sixers will travel to Charlotte for a Saturday night matchup against the Hornets, completing their second back-to-back of the young season. They will then return to Philadelphia to host the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. After playing Friday, Joel Embiid is expected to sit against Charlotte, while LeBron James’ status remains uncertain for Saturday's matchup.

MORE: Latest Sixers news, analysis and more

Follow Philly Sports Network on Twitter for the latest in Philly sports.

Follow Zach on Twitter: @CiavoNBA for Sixers news, analysis and coverage.