PHILADELPHIA (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 24 points and the New York Knicks spoiled 76ers star Joel Embiid's season debut, beating Philadelphia 111-99 on Tuesday night in the opener of NBA Cup group play for both teams.
Embiid finished with 13 points and 26 minutes and was unable to lift the struggling Sixers, who fell to 2-8. He shot 2 of 11 and had only three rebounds. Paul George led the Sixers with 29 points and 10 rebounds.
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Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, goes up for a shot against New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry, left, goes up for a shot against New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., right, and New York Knicks' OG Anunoby collide during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby (8) goes up for a dunk against Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, and New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns struggle for position during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, and New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns reach for the tipoff during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George (8) goes up for a shot against New York Knicks' OG Anunoby (8), Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Josh Hart (3) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby, left, goes up for a dunk past Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Josh Hart added 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson scored 18 points.
Knicks: New York’s ball movement and rebounding were the difference in last season's first-round playoff series win over the Sixers. This time, it was balanced scoring that carried the Knicks, who had six players in double figures.
76ers: Embiid was rusty in his first action since the gold medal game of the Paris Olympics on Aug. 10. His shot was slightly off and he appeared winded on defense.
New York started the fourth quarter on an 13-2 run that broke open a three-point game. Anunoby had three dunks during the run, often taking dead aim at a vacancy caused by Embiid, who was slow to defend the rim.
The Knicks recorded 31 assists on 44 field goals and shot 49% from the floor.
Knicks: Host Chicago on Wednesday night.
76ers: Host undefeated Cleveland on Wednesday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, goes up for a shot against New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry, left, goes up for a shot against New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., right, and New York Knicks' OG Anunoby collide during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby (8) goes up for a dunk against Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, and New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns struggle for position during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, and New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns reach for the tipoff during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George (8) goes up for a shot against New York Knicks' OG Anunoby (8), Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Josh Hart (3) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby, left, goes up for a dunk past Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
PARIS (AP) — Protests erupted in Paris on Wednesday against a controversial gala organized by far-right figures in support of Israel. The event, intended to raise funds for the Israeli military, included Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among its invited guests.
The demonstrations came on the eve of a high-stakes soccer match at France's national stadium against the Israeli national team, overshadowed by tensions around the wars in the Middle East. Authorities in Paris announced that more than 4,000 police officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for the game.
Smotrich, a vocal advocate of Israeli settlements, had been expected to attend Wednesday's gala, dubbed “Israel is Forever,” which was planned by an association of the same name. The group’s stated goal is to “mobilize French-speaking Zionist forces.”
After days of growing criticism of the event, Smotrich's office confirmed Wednesday that the minister would not travel to Paris to participate.
But the invitation to Smotrich drew sharp criticism from local associations, unions and left-wing political parties, prompting two protests in the French capital. The minister, a hard-line settler leader, has been accused of inflaming tensions in the West Bank and drew international condemnations this week by saying he hopes the election of Donald Trump will clear the way for Israeli annexation of the West Bank — a step that would extinguish Palestinian statehood dreams.
The French Foreign Ministry called Smotrich’s remarks “contrary to international law” and counterproductive to efforts to reduce regional tensions.
“France reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, which is the only prospect for a just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the ministry said in a statement.
Critics also pointed at Nili Kupfer-Naouri, president of the “Israel is Forever” association, who sparked outrage in 2023, after the Israel-Hamas war started, when she tweeted that “no civilian in Gaza was innocent.”
On Wednesday night, several hundred protesters marched through central Paris, denouncing the event as a “gala of hatred and shame.”
“Imagine if an association were hosting a gala for Hezbollah or Hamas — there’s no way the police would allow that,” said Melkir Saib, a 30-year-old protester. “The situation is just unfair.”
The march was largely peaceful, but some demonstrators broke windows at a McDonald's along the route.
A separate group, including Jewish leftist organizations opposed to racism and antisemitism, gathered near the Arc de Triomphe chanting slogans against the gala and Smotrich.
French authorities defended the event, with Paris police chief Laurent Nunez stating that the gala posed “no major threat to public order.”
The protests came days after tensions flared in Paris and Amsterdam related to the conflicts in the Mideast. A massive “Free Palestine” banner was displayed during a Paris Saint-Germain Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, while violence broke out in Amsterdam last week targeting fans of an Israeli soccer club.
Protestors take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Protesters and police clash during a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. Placards read " Smotrich, fascist, racist, we don't want him". (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Protestors take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. Banner reads " Another jewish voice. Peace, independence and security for all the peoples of the middle east". (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protestors take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A vandalized window of a McDonalds restaurant during a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures over support for Israel, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters and police clash during a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Protesters and police clash during a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
