The New York Knicks opened their 2023 Vegas Summer League slate with a 110-101 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
New York's 19 turnovers and 15 percent (3-of-20) output from three-point range paved the path to defeat. DaQuan Jeffries led the Knicks with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting while recording four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair as New York (0-1) won the 10-minute battle 28-27 but multiple runs from the 76ers allowed them to take a 56-48 lead into the break. The Knicks were able to stay in the game by driving to the basket and sinking 14-of-17 from the line.
"I just did my job by coming out and being aggressive by getting to the paint," Jeffries said on the NBA TV broadcast. "It's very hard, it's kind of like the G-League, but, you know, we have to come out here and play team basketball".
The Knicks were down by 13 with under four minutes left, but one final run, capped by an and-one opportunity for Charlie Brown Jr. (scorer of the 17 points) cut the 76ers' lead to four.
Down 101-97 with 45 seconds remaining, the Knicks appeared to force an eight-second violation that went unnoticed by officials. Even with that would-ve defensive stand, a few final missed shots and Philadelphia free throws from leading scorer Jaden Springer (23 points) sealed New York's fate.
The Knicks' prospects will return to action on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets (5:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
More must-reads: