Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks Game 1 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
Round two of the Eastern Conference playoffs gets underway with Game 1 between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. These two teams took quite different paths through the opening round. The 76ers upset the Celtics in seven games, coming back from 3-1 down. It was a different story for the Knicks, who needed six games against the Hawks but completely dominated the final three contests of that series.
Philadelphia and New York split the regular-season head-to-head series 2-2. Interestingly, the road team won every single game. The Sixers twice prevailed inside MSG before the Knicks got the job done in Philly on January 24 and February 11.
New York is a 7.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 213.5.
76ers vs. Knicks NBA Betting Odds
New York was favoured on all four occasions during the regular season. The Knicks were priced at -4 and -6.5 at home before being -1 and -2.5 favourites on the road. The spread is larger this time around because of what transpired in round one. The 76ers got only one day of rest in between series’, while the Knicks enjoyed three full days off after making relatively routine work of the Hawks. The totals for this matchup throughout the regular season were set at either 214.5 or 215.5. Monday’s number is understandably a bit lower given that defensive intensity always ratchets up in the playoffs.
New York is 6-3 against the spread in the last six meetings between these two teams and 9-2 ATS in its last 11 overall. Philadelphia is 6-2 ATS in eight playoff games (including a play-in matchup against Orlando) and 3-0 ATS in its last three on the road.
Philadelphia 76ers
What changed in Philly’s series against Boston? In the words of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, Joel Embiid came back. Mazzulla, of course, is exactly correct. After missing the first three games, Embiid played in the last four. The Sixers lost Game 4 with their star big man on the floor, but he heated up thereafter and led his team to three consecutive season-saving victories. Embiid scored 33 points in Game 5, was two assists away from a triple-double in Game 6 and delivered 34 points during Saturday’s clincher.
Embiid came up limping with an apparent knee tweak after teammate Tyrese Maxey crashed into him in the fourth quarter of Game 7, but the Kansas product is listed as probable for Monday – with only a hip issue being cited on the injury report. No one else on the roster has any kind of injury designation.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are also in great shape from an injury standpoint. Jeremy Sochan (hamstring), who logged just 10 total minutes against the Hawks (all in garbage time), is the only player with a designation (probable for Game 1).
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were their typically productive selves in round one, but they got plenty of help from OG Anunoby. The former Indiana standout contributed 21.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. He shot 61.1 per cent from the floor and went 17-for-30 from three-point range.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win 76ers vs. Knicks Game 1?
In the NHL playoffs, we have already seen teams playing on little rest get victimized at the start of their next series. There is no reason to think that anything will be different on the hardwood. Philadelphia just survived an intense series against Boston, plus it’s hard to imagine that Embiid is entirely 100 per cent. This is a fantastic spot for New York, especially at home. Let’s go with the Knicks to win 113-103.
PHI
NY