The NBA Cup Champion New York Knicks were back in action for the regular season on Thursday, and started their back-to-back with a one-point win in Indiana. They’ll be home on Friday night for the first game of Amazon Prime’s doubleheader, as they welcome in the Philadelphia 76ers. Each team has plenty of star power and potential storylines, offering some exciting player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s highlight a few top player props for Friday night’s matchup.
In the big picture of the matchup, the Knicks are 4.5-point home favorites, with the game total set at 229.5. This is the first matchup between these Eastern Conference rivals this season.
The Sixers are 14-11 coming into this matchup and have been off since Sunday, when they lost a close game to the Hawks. They’ll get Tyrese Maxey back after missing the last two games with an illness and Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable.
Who will step up in this matchup at Madison Square Garden? Let’s dive into this fun Eastern Conference tilt and check out some player prop bets to target.
76ers vs. Knicks Best Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 Assists (-108)
Brunson was impressive throughout his team’s NBA Cup run and scored plenty of points, but he also continued to produce assists, as well. He’s gone over this prop line in each of his last three games, six of his last nine, and 11 of his last 19.
Even with a limited lineup on Thursday, Brunson had seven assists, and if his squad is back to full strength (or close to it), he could spend this game trying to get his supporting cast to carry the load by handing out plenty of assists.
In his 14 home games this season, Brunson’s averaging 6.6 assists, slightly more than on the road. In what should be a high-scoring game with plenty of pace, Brunson should be able to get at least seven assists against the Sixers, like he’s done in four of his last six head-to-head matchups with Philly.
Quentin Grimes Under 14.5 Points (-120)
Grimes has been under this prop line in three straight games, even with Tyrese Maxey out of action in the last two games. He had 14 points against the Hawks, but needed 39 minutes and 14 shots.
With Maxey returning to action on Friday, Grimes will probably go back to his reduced role off the bench with Jared McCain, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George and Justin Edwards all in the mix to take some of his minutes, as well.
Grimes is averaging 16.2 points per game on the year, but with such a crowded rotation and against the Knicks’ solid wing defenders, I think he’ll stay under this prop this evening.
Mikal Bridges oOver 8.5 Rebounds + Assists (-132)
Bridges and Brunson were the only two Knicks’ starters who weren’t on the injury report at all for Thursday. Bridges is one of the most versatile and reliable players in the NBA, and if any of the rest of the Knicks are out, he tends to pick up more work.
On Thursday, Bridges picked up the slack for Josh Hart (abdomen), Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle), and he finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists — well over this prop line. He’s averaging 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game on the season. He’s also been able to go over this prop line in four of his last five games.
Regardless of who else is in or out of the rotation, Bridges should have a good chance to go over this prop line Friday night as the Cup Champs come home.
