Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers went through a rollercoaster season where they pulled off a spectacular first-round upset against the second-seeded Boston Celtics, storming their way back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Celtics before they ran out of gas.
The 76ers couldn’t get past the Knicks in the following round, but they didn’t dwell on their missed opportunities; instead, they shipped off Paul George in exchange for Jaylen Brown, who averaged 28.7 points per game, and followed up that big move with another as they signed LeBron James, who averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game last season. The 76ers will surely have some chemistry issues coming out of the gates, and they still have some injury concerns, but this is clearly a win-or-bust roster, so the expectations are sky-high for this team.
New York Knicks Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks had to battle their way through a crowded Eastern Conference to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. Jalen Brunson was rock solid for the team all season with averages of 26.0 points and 6.8 assists per game; Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game; OG Anunoby averaged 16.7 points; and Josh Hart averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. As a team, the Knicks scored 116.5 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Where the Knicks really shone was actually on defense, as they sustained an impressive 104.9 team defensive rating throughout the entire postseason, which was the difference in the NBA Finals that was much closer than the 4-1 series score suggests.
Why the New York Knicks will win
- The Knicks have won each of their last 13 games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The 76ers have lost each of their last four games.
- The Knicks have covered the spread in each of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The 76ers have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games.
Why the Philadelphia 76ers will win
- The underdogs have won four of the Knicks’ last five games.
- The Knicks have lost seven of their last nine home openers against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The road team has covered the spread in each of the Knicks’ last seven games.
- The Knicks have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five home openers against Atlantic Division opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the 76ers’ last nine road openers as underdogs have gone OVER the total points line.
- Five of the Knicks’ last six season openers against Eastern Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
New York Knicks Player Facts
- Jalen Brunson has scored 25+ points in three consecutive appearances – equal-longest active streak of any player in the league.
- Karl-Anthony Towns ranked 2nd amongst qualified players for rebounds per game (11.9) last season.
Philadelphia 76ers Player Facts
- Tyrese Maxey ranked 1st in the league for fast break points (382) last season.
- LeBron James ranked 1st amongst qualified players for fast break points per game (5.7) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Knicks ranked 1st in the league for opponent offensive rebounds per game last season (10.0).
- The Knicks recorded the most wins when trailing after Q1 last season (22).
- The 76ers recorded the most wins when trailing by a margin of 10+ points through Q3 last season (4).
- The 76ers suffered the equal-most losses by a margin of 40+ points last season (3).
Knicks vs 76ers Prediction
The Knicks hold a distinct advantage in this matchup as they have won the last six straight meetings while covering the spread in five of those six contests. The 76ers are absolutely star-studded on offense, but there’s going to be some growing pains at the start of the season, and I don’t like their chances on the road against a Knicks team on the same night they receive their championship rings.
Sure, there’s a chance that the ring ceremony becomes a distraction for the Knicks, so this could be a good spot for the 76ers to steal a game, but there is just so much continuity with the Knicks squad, and I think they ride the emotions of a packed house to a relatively comfortable win at home.