Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks Prediction, Pick for Tuesday 10/20/26

The NBA is officially back!

In the second game of the opening-night triple-header, the Philadelphia 76ers will challenge the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference thriller. The Knicks will raise the banner to celebrate last season’s NBA title and officially turn the page to this season, with both teams making notable offseason changes. 

Looking at the season-opener odds, the Knicks enter as 4.5-point favorites with -180 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The 76ers are +150 to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 232.5 points.

76ers vs. Knicks Preview

The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the biggest offseason stories, catapulting themselves into the championship conversation after a series of star-studded additions. Last season, the Sixers rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. However, the Knicks swept them in the next round as New York continued its run to the championship.

Daryl Morey departed his front-office role, with Mike Gansey taking over as president of basketball operations and Bob Myers also joining the organization’s leadership. The new-look front office quickly reshaped the roster, trading Paul George and draft capital to acquire former Celtics star Jaylen Brown following his All-NBA season. That move alone jolted the franchise, and the Sixers added another superstar when LeBron James joined on a veteran-minimum contract in pursuit of a fifth NBA championship.

These two stars join the established duo of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, along with V.J. Edgecombe, who is coming off an impressive rookie season.  Embiid has battled significant injuries throughout his career. Still, he reportedly entered training camp slimmed down to his rookie-year weight and seems as healthy as he has been in several years.

Philadelphia also added some valuable rotational depth, headlined by Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Sixers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd pick in the NBA Draft, and the rookie impressed during the preseason. Questions remain about the team’s frontcourt depth, and this new-look roster will take time to develop chemistry. However, it’s hard not to be impressed by an offseason that transformed a franchise whose championship window seemed to be closing.

The New York Knicks, meanwhile, remained committed to their core, led by Jalen Brunson and his former Villanova teammates, and reaped the benefits. The move from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown last offseason was polarizing, but it ultimately paid off when New York won its first NBA championship in 53 years. In one of the most dominant playoff runs in history, New York defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round, swept both the 76ers and the Cavaliers, and beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals.

This offseason brought some difficult decisions as the financial implications of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement became increasingly apparent. Owner James Dolan repeatedly said he would not go into the second apron, and Mitchell Robinson was the biggest casualty, as he will suit up for the Boston Celtics this season.

However, the core remains largely intact, and the team will aim to become the first back-to-back NBA champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns each return in the starting lineup. Tension surrounds Towns’ outlook, as his desire for a contract extension goes unmet and his frustration reaches the media and the general public.

Andre Drummond, who played for Philadelphia last season, joined New York and will help fill the void Robinson left in the frontcourt. Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson also return as important members of the rotation. Although Robinson was an impactful presence, the Knicks have done a solid job maintaining continuity across their championship roster.

76ers vs. Knicks Pick, Best Bet

Plenty of eyes will be on this matchup, with these teams holding the two best odds to win the Eastern Conference on DraftKings Sportsbook. These teams have built a rivalry through recent playoff battles, and New York’s sweep of Philadelphia last season should only intensify it.

Philadelphia showed some encouraging flashes during the preseason, playing its four stars together in two of its four games. The Sixers remain a theoretical contender until the regular season begins, but this roster carries a different sense of urgency. James is in the twilight of his career and has made it clear that winning another championship remains a priority.

Even at 41, James continues to produce at a high level. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds last season and earned his 22nd All-Star selection. Beyond his individual production, James knows what it takes to win a championship. He chose Philadelphia as his next opportunity to pursue another title, and that journey begins on opening night. Talent hasn’t been Philadelphia’s biggest problem in its pursuit of another championship. The challenge will be turning that talent into a cohesive team that can perform under pressure. Adding James and Brown gives the Sixers two more experienced stars who could make a significant difference.

Emotions will run high in New York as the Knicks raise their championship banner and celebrate last season’s title. But in some ways, this should be seen as a bit of a negative, given the pomp and circumstance. The NBA title should be celebrated, but the slate will be wiped clean at opening tipoff, and New York must be ready. A championship hangover is real, and the Towns contract conversations are more than a footnote. The All-Star center publicly expressed frustration with his role last season. Winning tends to make those feelings go away, and for now, emotions have calmed. But after being a key pillar of the title run, Towns didn’t get the contract extension he wanted and hasn’t been shy about his frustration during training camp.

Ultimately, the Sixers are eager to make a statement, and this is the perfect chance to do so. This roster has plenty of experience and some of the sport’s highest-IQ players. I expect them to capitalize on any weakness New York shows. The Knicks will be fine this season and have earned their status as the team to beat. But I am backing Philadelphia on the +4.5 point spread in the season opener, with this new-look Sixers roster coming out of the gate strong. 

Best Bet: Philadelphia 76ers +4.5 (-112)