What happened: Jaylen Brown and LeBron James scored on consecutive possessions in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. The spurt moved Philadelphia within one point during the opening-night matchup with New York.

Why it matters: The pairing headlines Philadelphia's reshaped 2026-27 core around Brown and James. An early road date with the defending champions gives a first measure of that fit.

What to watch: The fourth quarter will show how Philadelphia staggers Brown and James down the stretch.