The Knicks, led by a 25-point performance from Jalen Brunson, outrebounded the Sixers 48-42 and shot a higher percentage from the field (47.6% to 42.2%). Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 27 points, but he was limited to just 10 rebounds, his lowest total in the past seven games.

“We just didn’t play well enough,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers. “We didn’t rebound the ball, we didn’t shoot the ball well, and we made too many mistakes. We need to be better than this.”

The loss was particularly disappointing for the Sixers, who had won their previous two games and were looking to build momentum before a challenging stretch of games. They will now face the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks in their next three contests.

“This is a tough loss,” said Embiid. “But we need to learn from it and move on. We have a lot of basketball left to play.”

The Sixers’ loss has raised questions about their ability to contend for the NBA championship. They have now lost three of their last five games and have struggled to find consistency on both ends of the court.

“The Sixers have a lot of potential,” said ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. “But they need to figure out how to play together and execute their game plan. If they can’t do that, they’re not going to be able to beat the best teams in the league.”

The Sixers will have a chance to bounce back on Thursday when they host the Raptors. The game will be a crucial test for the team as they look to regain their form and move up the standings.