NBA opening night: LeBron's 76ers spoil Knicks' ring night, Thunder and Pistons win
Philadelphia won 106-100 at Madison Square Garden after the Knicks raised their championship banner. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 as Oklahoma City beat the Spurs, and Detroit came back to beat Boston.
At a glance
- The 76ers beat the defending champion Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 20, in LeBron James's Philadelphia debut.
- Before the game, the Knicks received their rings and raised their third championship banner, the first since 1973.
- The Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104 in a rematch of the Western Conference finals; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32, while Victor Wembanyama shot 1 for 13.
- The Pistons beat the Celtics 121-113 with a 23-0 second-half run, spoiling Paul George's 38-point Boston debut.
The 2026-27 NBA season is under way, and the champions' celebration did not go to plan. The Philadelphia 76ers, with LeBron James making his debut, beat the New York Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 20, shortly after the Knicks raised their championship banner. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons also won on opening night.
Opening night results
| Game | Score | Top performers |
|---|---|---|
| Pistons v Celtics (Detroit) | Pistons 121, Celtics 113 | Cade Cunningham 22, Jalen Duren 22, Duncan Robinson 21; Paul George 38 for Boston |
| 76ers at Knicks (New York) | 76ers 106, Knicks 100 | Jaylen Brown 19 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast; Joel Embiid 13 pts, 11 reb; Jalen Brunson 21, Karl-Anthony Towns 19 pts, 12 reb |
| Thunder at Spurs (San Antonio) | Thunder 116, Spurs 104 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 32; Stephon Castle 24 for San Antonio |
Knicks' ring night spoiled
Before tip-off, Knicks legends Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier handed out championship rings, and the team raised its third championship banner — its first since 1973 — after beating the Spurs in last season's Finals. Stars including Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Jon Bon Jovi were at the Garden.
Then the 76ers took over. Jaylen Brown led a balanced attack with 19 points, and Joel Embiid added a double-double. LeBron, starting a record 24th NBA season, was honest about his own performance: "I could be a lot better," he said, but called winning on another team's ring night "pretty special". Jalen Brunson said the Knicks were "ready to turn the page as a team".
Thunder win a fiery Finals-style rematch
In a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points as the Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104. "Obviously this is the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal," he said. Victor Wembanyama had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks but made just 1 of 13 shots. Tempers flared when De'Aaron Fox was called for a flagrant foul after throwing Chet Holmgren to the floor, sparking a shoving match and several technical fouls.
Pistons' 23-0 run sinks Boston
Paul George scored 38 points in his Celtics debut, but Detroit turned the game with a 23-0 run in the second half. Duncan Robinson scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Why it matters
Opening night gave early answers to the season's biggest storylines: LeBron's move to Philadelphia alongside Embiid and Brown, whether the Knicks can defend their title, and whether the Thunder and Spurs will again be the West's top two. LeBron is also chasing history — he needs 27 more regular-season wins to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record.
What happens next
The rest of the league tips off over the coming days, with the champion Knicks and the new-look 76ers both aiming to set the tone in the Eastern Conference.
Questions people are asking
Who won the NBA opening night games in 2026?
The 76ers beat the Knicks 106-100, the Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104, and the Pistons beat the Celtics 121-113 on October 20, 2026.
How did LeBron James do in his 76ers debut?
He helped Philadelphia win 106-100 at Madison Square Garden in his record 24th NBA season, though he said afterwards, 'I could be a lot better.' Jaylen Brown led the 76ers with 19 points.
How many championships have the Knicks won?
Three. They won in 1970 and 1973, and beat the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Finals, raising their third banner on opening night.
