News DeskAbu Dhabi, UAE – The New York Knicks kicked off the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 in winning fashion, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 98–84 in an action-packed preseason contest at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Thursday evening (October 2).
The matchup, presented by ADQ, marked the first time the Philadelphia 76ers have played a game in the region, treating thousands of local and visiting fans to high-energy professional basketball.
The Knicks secured the strong first preseason victory largely through contributions from their reserves and defensive intensity. Guard Miles McBride led the scoring with 12 points, while big man Mitchell Robinson dominated the paint, hauling in an impressive 16 rebounds for the winning side.
Philadelphia found pace from star guard Tyrese Maxey and highly-touted rookie VJ Edgecombe, who each scored 14 points. Edgecombe, the third overall pick in the most recent draft, made his unofficial NBA debut and was a standout performer for Coach Nick Nurse’s squad.
Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown expressed satisfaction with his team’s focus areas from training camp, particularly on the defensive end.
“Just like I’m sure Philadelphia feels, we believe our ceiling is really high,” Brown said after the game. “It was the first time out there for both teams, but I’ve got to give our guys credit. As the game went along, we improved on the things we’ve been working on in training camp. The guys did a good job of helping and then recovering to their man.”
Across the court, 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse offered high praise for rookie Edgecombe’s immediate impact on defense.
“I really liked his defense, especially in the first half. He’s a great athlete and was making things difficult — getting over screens, jumping into passing lanes, applying ball pressure,” Nurse noted. “He even showed some defensive rebounding and shot-blocking ability. For a young player going up against experienced NBA guys, he took on the challenge and impressed me with his quickness and physicality.”
Edgecombe, who rounded out his debut performance with six rebounds and three assists, reflected positively on the experience. “Overall, it’s a dream come true. First time on the floor, it felt good,” he said.
The atmosphere was electric, enhanced by the presence of several international celebrities, including actor Kiefer Sutherland, TV host Steve Harvey, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim. They were joined by popular American YouTuber Jesser and global streetball icon The Professor.
Rapper Fat Joe headlined the entertainment performances during the halftime break, adding a layer of hip-hop culture to the international sporting event.
The two teams will face off again for a rematch on Saturday, 4 October at Etihad Arena, concluding the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025, which is part of the ongoing strategic partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the NBA.
