Overview

• New York faces Philadelphia on Thursday in Abu Dhabi in the first of two preseason games, airing at noon ET on MSG Networks and NBATV.
• Mike Brown said he plans to get everyone on the court, with starters and top rotation players likely restricted to first‑half action.
• The opener serves as the first live look at a faster, spacing-driven offense with more threes and less isolation against Nick Nurse’s pressure scheme.
• Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet are on non‑guaranteed contracts, and retaining both would likely require a trade to stay within hard‑cap constraints.
• Young players including Tyler Kolek, Pacôme Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, Kevin McCullar Jr., and second‑round pick Mohamed Diawara are set for extended evaluation, with Mitchell Robinson expected to have back‑to‑back restrictions.