Veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helps 76ers beat Knicks on ring night
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The gist
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 10 points off the bench in his 76ers debut, a 106-100 win over the Knicks.
The veteran sharpshooter's role and minutes are worth watching as Philadelphia chases a title.
Background
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a Philadelphia 76ers guard described as a veteran sharpshooter and offseason addition; he has won two championships, with the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023. He joined Philadelphia in the offseason, with prior reporting saying he intended to sign there from the Grizzlies. The 76ers added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown over the summer and entered the season with championship aspirations, opening on the road against the defending champion Knicks, who raised their banner before tip-off.
How it unfolded
- Oct 16, 2026Caldwell-Pope started the Sixers' preseason finale against Boston after a one-game rest absence, replacing VJ Edgecombe in the starting five.
- Oct 20, 2026He came off the bench in the regular-season opener at the Knicks, with Edgecombe reclaiming the starting spot; before tip-off New York raised its championship banner.
- Oct 20, 2026In his 76ers debut he posted 10 points (3-8 FG, 2-6 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one block in 26 minutes in a 106-100 win.
- Oct 21, 2026Post-game reports listed his line as 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting with a pair of fourth-quarter threes, plus four rebounds, one assist and one block; Tyrese Maxey had a game-high 28.
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Caldwell-Pope said before the game that on a ring night the home team has to take the first loss, and that the MSG atmosphere would be tough and emotional.
- Support
- Teammate Tyrese Maxey spoke about Caldwell-Pope's championship pedigree after the win over the Knicks.
Still unverified
It remains to be seen whether Caldwell-Pope will consistently see minutes in the mid-20s once Dean Wade is healthy.