76ers Start 5-1 by Closing Out the Close Games They Used to Lose

The Philadelphia 76ers are 5-1, and the way Friday's 98-93 win over the New York Knicks played out shows why that record looks different from past fast starts. New York wiped out a 14-point Philadelphia lead and went ahead 90-89 on a Jalen Brunson three with 1:32 left. In other recent seasons that would have been the end of it. This time the Sixers closed on a 9-3 run behind a LeBron James fadeaway, a VJ Edgecombe three as the shot clock expired and a James putback, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

That matters because of the history. NBC Sports Philadelphia's Cole Weintraub notes the Sixers went 2-10 against New York over the previous two seasons, playoffs included, and New York swept them out of the postseason five months ago. They are now 2-0 against the defending champions. Yahoo Sports had James at 20 points in the win, including the late tip-in. Nick Nurse called it James's best game as a Sixer, and James said it was "very encouraging" that the group has kept its cool when opponents make runs.

Philadelphia has done this without its full lineup. The preferred starting five has opened only three games together. Tyrese Maxey is the only starter to play in all six, and Joel Embiid, James, Jaylen Brown and Edgecombe have each missed a game. Brown sat Friday with what Marc Stein reported was a diagnosis of left patellar tendinopathy. Anfernee Simons covered for him with 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three, his second straight 20-point night off the bench.

The rest of the early profile holds up too. Maxey is averaging 28.2 points and has scored at least 26 in every game. Embiid shot 3 for 12 against New York but still had seven assists, and he is averaging 5.2 assists, third among qualified centers. The defense has been the base for all of it: Philadelphia ranks second in the league at 103.6 points allowed per 100 possessions, and five of its six opponents have finished under 110. The Sixers are 3-1 in games decided by single digits. Their only loss was a 106-93 home defeat to Detroit.

What it means for Charlotte

The Sixers go for a fourth win in five games Saturday night in Charlotte (NBA TV). They have already won at Indiana and Madison Square Garden. Five of the six games have been close or low-scoring, with only the 127-116 win over Milwaukee breaking 120, which fits a team that leans on its half-court defense. The main thing to watch is Brown's status after he missed Friday.

The board for the game has Philadelphia only slightly favored across 11 venues. Novig lists the Sixers at -108 on the moneyline and Charlotte at +104. theScore Bet's +105 on the Hornets is the best price anywhere, just a point better than Novig's. On the spread, Novig has Philadelphia -1.5 at -108, and BetRivers offers the best Sixers number at -124 on -0.5. Novig's total is 215.5, while other books range from 214.5 to 216.5. Sportsbook hold runs from 4.0% to 5.4% depending on the market, so the venues are bunched closely around a near pick'em.