The Knicks played their best defensive first half all season, but fell apart in the second half, losing 101-95 to the 76ers on Friday night. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Friday's game

1) The Knicks got out to a 31-18 lead in the first quarter, as the team went 5-for-8 from three point land. It was the first time all season that they gave up less than 20 points in the first quarter. Rookie RJ Barrett led the way, scoring 10 points after playing all 12 minutes.

2) Leading 51-39 at the half, the Knicks allowed their least amount of points in a half all season. They held the 76ers to just 32.4 percent shooting and 11.1 percent from three in the first half. Philly star point guard Ben Simmons had just seven points in the half, while forward Tobias Harris was kept to just six points.

3) The Knicks got outscored 31-17 in the third quarter, as the Sixers took a 70-68 lead. James Ennis III drilled a three to tie the game at 66 apiece with 2:21 left in the quarter. Sixers center Joel Embiid then went 1-for-2 from the foul line, before Ennis hit another three pointer to extend Philly's lead to 70-66.

4) Embiid proved to be too much for the Knicks, especially after Mitchell Robinson fouled out with 2:33 left in the fourth quarter. Philly's star big man finished with 27 points and 17 rebounds, just a couple days after going scoreless in a game for the first time in his career.

5) Missed free throws hurt the Knicks once again, as the team shot 19-for-33 (57.6 percent). They are shooting only 68 percent from the foul line as a team this season. Julius Randle was 9-for-13 from the foul line, but Mitchell Robinson and Dennis Smith Jr. combined to go 2-for-9 on foul shots.

Highlights

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What's next

The Knicks will go up against the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, with tipoff scheduled for 3:30 PM

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