RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will begin their NBA championship defense with a season-opening game hosting LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden.
In addition to featuring James' regular-season debut, it will also be Jaylen Brown's debut game for the 76ers following a trade from his longtime team, the Boston Celtics. It will also be a huge evening at MSG as the Knicks get to raise their championship banner in front of their fans before tip-off.
The NBA released the opening-night schedule on Tuesday morning, and Brunson appeared on NBC's "Today" along with his mother, Sandra Brunson. During the visit, he was asked for his early thoughts on the Knicks' first game of the upcoming season.
"Fireworks, for sure," Brunson said. "They're gonna be electric. They're gonna be definitely a team to keep your eye on. I mean, they reloaded this year, so it's gonna be a tough test. We'll be ready."
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Asked about the sports "talking heads" who say the 76ers are now the team to beat, Brunson said, "rightfully so" due to them having "a lot of firepower." However, that doesn't mean he and the reigning champions are going to throw in the towel.
"We're gonna focus on what we need to do, and we'll see what happens," the Knicks star said of the upcoming season.
Brunson has been sporting a soft cast on his wrist for several weeks now following surgery he had during the offseason. That could be something to keep an eye on regarding his status for the game. However, Brunson indicated that he's been getting the rest to recover, and the plan is for him to be able to go on opening night.
"I feel good. I got a little more time in this, and then once this is off, we'll figure out the best plan of action," he said of his recovery situation.
He'll have until Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. ET to rest and recover so he can be on the court with his team as James and the 76ers get their first chance to beat the reigning champions. It's going to be an early-season measuring stick for both teams as they start their latest campaigns, but also could be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2027 NBA Playoffs.
Along with Brunson's expected return to the court, the NBA Finals MVP will have the majority of his supporting cast back on this season's Knicks roster. They'll have their full starting lineup returning to defend their championship.
As of this writing, the Knicks are five-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook to defeat the 76ers at MSG on opening night. They're also tied for third overall with the 76ers in the odds to win the championship at +900, trailing only the Western Conference's top contenders, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
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