By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In the first match of the Christmas special, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks on the road 105-98. After this loss, Knicks fell to 22-30 record on Christmas with their fifth straight loss on the holiday.
The huge game by Enes Kanter didn’t help the Knicks tonight as the Turkish big man had a season-high 31 points and a career-best 22 rebounds. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kanter joined Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Lanier as the only players in league history to top 30 points and 20 rebounds on Christmas day.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points for the Knicks as well, but that didn’t cut for them tonight. French guard Frank Ntilikina added 4 points.
The hosts couldn’t stop Joel Embiid tonight who had 25 points and 16 rebounds. With Embiid on the floor, the 76ers outscored the Knicks 90-65. Croatian forward Dario Saric added 10 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.
The Knicks started the game winning the first quarter 24-21, but they couldn’t stay on that pace as they were trailing 50-48 at the halftime and never recovering from it.