Eastern Conference rivals New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers meet for the second time this season, when they do battle in the NBA Cup at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday.
The Sixers won at Madison Square Garden earlier this month and could jump to the top of the standings with another win over the Knicks.
Philadelphia have a clear advantage in the overall head-to-head stats, but it’s worth noting that the Knicks have won on their last six visits to the Sixers’ home court.
Last season’s NBA champions lost their opening three games, but two successive wins looks to have got them back on track prior to their first NBA Cup clash.
Knicks vs. Sixers betting picks and predictions
Point Spread - New York -6.0 (+150)
A 106-100 win in New York looked like an impressive win for the Sixers, but a third-quarter struggle for the Knicks was key to the host’s defeat.
Mike Brown’s men had been four points ahead at the midway stage, before scoring just 18 in the third quarter as the Sixers racked up 29.
The Knicks will head to Philadelphia in confident mood though, after back-to-back wins over Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.
They also have happy memories of the Xfinity Mobile Arena, having won on their last six trips and have won seven of their last 10 meetings with the 76ers.
Philly have lost just one of their opening five games of the season, with that defeat coming on their home court - a 93-106 defeat to the 4-1 Pistons.
The last time these teams went head-to-head in Philadelphia was back in February, when the Knicks claimed a crushing W having run out 89-138 victors.
The Sixers failed to reach 20 points in the second and fourth quarters and they go into Friday’s clash ranked 27th in the NBA Offensive Ratings.
Team Totals: New York Knicks - Over 114.5 (-115)
The defending champions have scored 100+ points in all five of their games this season and head into Friday’s clash off the back of their biggest total so far.
The Knicks racked up 133 in their win over the Bulls on Thursday, when five of their stars fired double figures.
In two of last season’s four matchups with Philly, New York drained over 114.5 points and currently have two players inside the top-25 points scorers in the league.
Jaylen Brunson (9th) has averaged 25.8 points per game, while Karl-Anthony Towns is ranked 32nd with a 21.8 average.
Towns also ranks second in the league for rebounds (13.8), with the former Timberwolves center having a 58.3 field goal percentage.
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Knicks vs. Sixers odds
New York Knicks | -124 |
Philadelphia 76ers | +104 |
Spread | NY Knicks -1.5 |
Total Points | O/U 227.5 |
Knicks vs. Sixers player props
Player points
Jalen Brunson (NY Knicks) | O/U 27.5 |
Tyrese Maxey (PHI 76ers) | O/U 23.5 |
Joel Embiid (PHI 76ers) | O/U 22.5 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (NY Knicks) | O/U 19.5 |
Jaylen Brown (PHI 76ers) | O/U 19.5 |
OG Anunoby (NY Knicks) | O/U 17.5 |
Knicks vs. Sixers team news
Jalen Brown has been suffering with a knee issue and the five-time NBA All-Star is rated ‘questionable’ for Friday night’s showdown.
If Brown misses out then Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could start, while the Sixers are still without Power forward duo Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow.
Jose Alvardo will miss a fourth straight game for the Knicks, as he continues his recovery from an ankle sprain.
Tyler Kolek, who scored nine points in 18 minutes on court against the Bulls, is set to continue at point guard.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
