LeBron James played center for part of the Philadelphia 76ers' 106-100 season-opening win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. Joel Embiid said it was his idea after he picked up his third foul late in the second quarter.

"I suggested that to the guys, the coaching staff, because I just felt like the way they were calling fouls, I just felt like -- and I was just being honest -- I wasn't going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense, having three fouls, wanting to stay on the floor," said Embiid. "I just told them I thought we should do that."

The Sixers trailed 51-46 when Embiid sat down with 2:13 left in the half. James guarded Karl-Anthony Towns the rest of the quarter, and Philadelphia was down just 58-54 at halftime.

Nick Nurse said the staff had considered the matchup before the game. Dean Wade is out with a left ankle injury, and backup center Ariel Hukporti is out for the season after Achilles surgery.

With the Sixers leading 102-98 in the final two minutes, James denied Towns the ball beyond the arc. OG Anunoby threw crosscourt instead, and Tyrese Maxey intercepted the pass for a dunk that made it a six-point game.

"Obviously, KAT is very dangerous when he has space," said James. "I wanted to be there on the catch and not give him no airspace. ... And Tyrese just playing center field was able to jump that and get that dunk. That was a big momentum play."

James had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to open his record 24th season. Embiid finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

Embiid compared the plan to Team USA's approach at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the semifinals against Serbia, James guarded Nikola Jokic.