Vincent Goodwill Nov 3, 2026, 07:00 AM ET

THE VISUAL WAS telling, if not stark.

The Philadelphia 76ers moved the ball all over their NBA Cup-adorned court while the New York Knicks scrambled to catch up, reminiscent of how the reigning champions ran things in the second round of last season's playoffs when they won 15 of their final 16 games, including 13 straight.

This time, the Knicks weren't taking over Xfinity Mobile Arena. They didn't get 3-pointers from Josh Hart or Miles McBride or Jalen Brunson after good ball movement. Instead, 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was driving down the lane for an easy dunk.

Sixers fans chanted "MVP" for Maxey instead of being drowned out by their rivals who made the trek down I-95. LeBron James , after a tip-in that sealed the game, basked in the love as the newest addition to this rivalry.…