The New York Knicks play host to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the East Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Here’s a Knicks vs. 76ers Prediction. This article will include a Knicks vs. 76ers Pick.
Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers took the scenic route, but they are coming into the East Semifinals with plenty of confidence after erasing a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Celtics in Game 7 on Saturday night. Joel Embiid has been absent seemingly for most of the season, but he came up big with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in Game 7. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists, while VJ Edgecombe tallied 23 points with six rebounds and four assists. As a team, the 76ers shot 48 percent from the field and 11 of 28 from the 3-point line as they looked to be in trouble after squandering an early 15-point lead, but they poured in 33 points in the third quarter to open up a 16-point lead, which proved to be just enough to hold off a late rally from the Celtics, who cut the lead to just one point late in the fourth quarter. Check out tonight’s other game between the Spurs and Timberwolves.
New York Knicks Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks stumbled early in the first round against the Hawks as they fell behind by 2-1 in the series before they sprung to life and won three games in a row to eliminate the Hawks with ease in the end. Jalen Brunson led the team with averages of 26.3 points and 6.2 assists per game; OG Anunoby averaged 21.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, while Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 18.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. As a team, the Knicks scored 117.8 points per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from the 3-point line but those numbers are a little inflated due to the 51-point blowout win in Game 6 on Thursday.
Why the New York Knicks will win
- The Knicks have won each of their last nine games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The 76ers have lost 11 of their last 12 Game 1s of an Eastern Conference Semifinals series.
- The Knicks have covered the spread in each of their last eight home games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The 76ers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games against the Knicks after winning as underdogs.
Why the Philadelphia 76ers will win
- The 76ers have won each of their eight previous Eastern Conference Semifinals games against the Knicks.
- The Knicks have lost four of their last five playoff games as home favorites following a win.
- The road team has covered the spread in 10 of the last 11 games between the 76ers and Knicks.
- The Knicks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four home games against 76ers teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the 76ers’ last eight games as road underdogs have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Twelve of the last 15 night games between the 76ers and Knicks at Madison Square Garden have gone UNDER the total points line.
New York Knicks Player Facts
- Mitchell Robinson ranks 1st amongst qualified players for rebounds per 36 minutes (16.1) this season.
- Karl-Anthony Towns ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for rebounds per game (11.9) this season.
Philadelphia 76ers Player Facts
- Tyrese Maxey ranks 1st in the league for fast break points (382) this season.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. has recorded 3+ steals in three consecutive appearances—the equal-longest active streak of any player in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Knicks rank 1st in the league for opponent offensive rebounds per game this season (10.0).
- The Knicks rank 1st in the league for Q4 opponent points per game this season (25.3).
- The 76ers rank 29th in the league for assists per game this season (24.6).
- The 76ers rank 29th in the league for Q3 points per game this season (27.3).
Knicks vs 76ers Prediction
The 76ers are keeping an eye on Joel Embiid, who is currently listed as probable for this one, while the Knicks have listed Jeremy Sochan as a game-time decision with that hamstring injury. The 76ers must be feeling good after taking down the Celtics in a big upset in the first round, but with Embiid’s lengthy history of injuries, you just don’t know if he will be available all series. These teams met four times in the regular season, with the season series tied at 2-2 so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this playoff series went the distance. It’s no surprise to see the Knicks as favorites at home, but I like this matchup for the 76ers and I think they will be good enough to at least take it down to the wire in a close one.