Editors Note: Joel Embiid has been ruled OUT for the matchup for the Sixers due to illness and injury management.
It is a five-game slate of NBA action taking place across Friday night’s schedule. Tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET, the Philadelphia 76ers will take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
There is still a sense of rivalry when these two teams face off, dating back to the Knicks’ elimination of the Sixers in the 2023-24 postseason. New York is riding high into this matchup after winning the NBA Cup on Tuesday and coming off a thrilling 114-113 victory over the Pacers last night. Philadelphia has shown a pulse this season after a disastrous year, and enters with a 14-11 record, which slots them in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Looking at the odds for tonight, the Knicks enter as 4.5-point favorites and hold -185 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Sixers hold +154 odds of winning outright with the game total set at 228.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Friday night matchup.
76ers at Knicks Preview
The Sixers have shown some encouraging flashes to start the season and enter this matchup with a significant rest advantage after last playing on Sunday. Tyrese Maxey missed the previous two games with an illness, putting a brief halt to his stellar season. The All-Star guard continues to lead the league in minutes at 39.9 per game, posting averages of 31.5 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. Joel Embiid has popped up on the injury report with an illness of his own and is questionable tonight. Embiid was present at shootaround this morning, and if he does suit up, it would be the first time this season he plays four consecutive games. Trendon Watford and Kelly Oubre Jr. remain sidelined for Philadelphia, while Paul George is off the injury report completely.
Philadelphia ranks 16th in the league in scoring at 116.8 points per game. They rank 25th in team field goal percentage, but 14th in three-point percentage while ranking 15th in three-point volume. Defensively, the Sixers are allowing 115.8 points per game, which ranks 14th in the league. They are sixth in opponents’ field goal percentage allowed, eighth in opponents’ three-point percentage allowed, 14th in defensive rating, and sixth in rebounds per game.
There has been a change in identity for the Sixers this year, with the franchise no longer living and dying with the level of production of Joel Embiid. While the former MVP remains a key part of the game plan whenever he is available, Tyrese Maxey has stepped up as the face of the franchise this year. Embiid and Paul George have shown they still have something left in the tank over the past few weeks, but the youth movement has been notable in Philadelphia with third-overall pick VJ Edgecombe making a strong impact as well. Philadelphia is 15-10 against the spread this season, and the under has cashed in 13 of their 25 games. They enter this matchup having won four of their last six matchups, and this is the first game against the Knicks this season.
You will not find very many teams as hot as the Knicks right now. On the season overall, they sit in second place in the East with a 19-7 record. The Knicks won the NBA Cup on Tuesday, have won seven straight games entering this matchup, and have won 11 of their last 12. Tonight will mark the second half of a back-to-back and their fourth game this week.
The Knicks average 120.7 points per game, which is the fourth-best rate in the NBA. They rank 10th in field goal percentage, fourth in three-point percentage, and third in offensive rating. Defensively, opponents are scoring 112.3 points per game against them, which is the fourth-best rate in the league. New York ranks 12th in defensive rating, seventh in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 14th in opponents’ three-point percentage, while giving up the fifth-most perimeter shot attempts.
The biggest offseason change from New York came at the coaching level, with Mike Brown taking over for Tom Thibodeau. Jalen Brunson continues to headline the production and has leveled up his output recently, posting averages of 28.7 points and 6.4 assists on the season. Karl-Anthony Towns adds 22.4 points and 11.9 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have been further unlocked this year, and Josh Hart remains the heart and soul of the team. The Knicks are an NBA-best 18-9 against the spread this season, and the over is 15-12 in matchups they have played this year.
76ers at Knicks Prediction, Best Bet
On a larger scale of the conversation, the Knicks still have a clear case for being the better team. But this is a spot where I love the Sixers and believe they will get the outright victory tonight.
New York is on a brutal stretch of games and has gotten banged up in the process. Their injury report is not set in stone, but Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Josh Hart each missed last night’s game while Landry Shamet and Miles McBride continue to be sidelined. Jalen Brunson has also taken on a monstrous workload, playing 114 game minutes over the past week alone.
In contrast, the health outlook is about as positive for the Sixers as it has been all season. Joel Embiid being listed as questionable for an illness isn’t ideal, but is more encouraging than it being listed as a knee issue. Maxey’s return is a massive boost, and the two-game absence due to his sickness provided him with a necessary rest. Paul George has also started to find a rhythm.
The hatred between these two teams is still evident, and the Sixers will be hungry to capitalize on their vulnerable opponent. The last time Embiid had five days off in between games, which was last week, the former MVP dropped 39 points. This marked the most he has scored in a game since the playoff matchup against the Knicks in 2023-24. Rest is as valuable to this Sixers team as any team in the league with their injury concerns.
Expect the Knicks to run out of gas a bit and for this to be a great spot for the Sixers to take advantage. New York was pushed to the limit by a 6-21 Pacers’ team last night, and the Sixers have more ways they can capitalize on this New York team. Even without Embiid, Philadelphia has shown plenty of will to win and an impressive resiliency this year. Count on Maxey returning to his expected level of play and having the necessary support around him. New York is riding high right now, but count on some tired legs showing in the second night of the back-to-back and for Philadelphia to fully capitalize.
