Knicks takeaways from Sunday’s 125-109 loss to 76ers, including another fourth quarter meltdown

After losing to the Miami Heat in their first game after the All-Star Break, the Knicks looked to get a win for their home crowd at Madison Square Garden with the visiting Philadelphia 76ers in town.

Here are the takeaways…

– RJ Barrett started the scoring off with two made free throws after a hard foul on the first possession of the game, but Joel Embiid answered right back with two of his own. Julius Randle got his day started with a two-point bucket, but subsequently fouled James Harden on a three-point attempt. Harden would make all of his free throws.

– Some lazy ball handling by Randle led to a Harden poke steal which led to a quick two on the other end as turnovers would prove pivotal in this game. Down 11-8, Evan Fournier made his first three of the day to tie the game and then scored again to take the 13-11 lead. But the Knicks fell asleep on defense and the 76ers scored a quick two to tie it as the camera panned to a disgusted Tom Thibodeau on the sideline. Another Knicks turnover led to a transition three by the Sixers who now led 20-14, causing Thibodeau to call a timeout.

– Coming off the bench, rookie Jericho Sims energized his team and played great defense on Embiid, giving him fits on three straight trips to the basket. Sims finished the quarter with nine rebounds including an offensive board that led to a Fournier three to cut the deficit to one.

– Barrett would give New York the lead soon after with a dunk that concluded a 10-3 Knicks run. Harden quieted the hyped up MSG crowd with a three on the other end and then with time winding down, the former Net hit another three to give his team a 38-35 lead after a busy first quarter.

– The Knicks started the second quarter off hot with a Barrett steal who then passed it to his fellow Duke Blue Devil Cam Reddish who euro stepped his way to a bucket. But after that, it was the Knicks who struggled mightily with turnovers, ending the half with 11. In fact, with 7:13…