The New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Tipoff is set for 7:30PM ET. The Knicks are 47-27 and third in the East. The 76ers sit at 23-52 and are 13th in the conference. New York is aiming to sweep the season series after winning the first three meetings.
Philadelphia has dropped eight straight games and continues to deal with major injuries. New York is still without Jalen Brunson but has won four of its last five. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have carried the Knicks on offense while the Sixers have leaned on Quentin Grimes, Ricky Council IV, and Lonnie Walker IV.
Knicks Preview – Bridges and Anunoby Keep It Rolling
The Knicks beat Portland 110-93 on Sunday behind 28 points each from Anunoby and Bridges. Bridges scored 21 of his points in the second half and has averaged 23.8 points over the last five games. Anunoby has been even hotter, putting up 30.5 points per game in his last four outings.
Josh Hart continues to fill up the box score. He had 14 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds in the win over the Blazers. Hart, Anunoby, and Bridges have become the go-to core while the Knicks wait on Brunson, who is hoping to return before the playoffs.
New York is 25-12 at home and has won 7 of 12 games since Brunson went down with an ankle injury. The Knicks are giving up just 112.1 points per game, good for 10th in the league. They also rank second in rebounding and fifth in limiting three-point attempts by opponents.
Sixers Preview – Young Players Keep Battling
Philadelphia has lost eight in a row and is short-handed. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Kyle Lowry are all out. On Sunday, the 76ers lost 127-109 to the Raptors despite 23 points from Lonnie Walker IV and double-digit scoring from five other players.
Ricky Council IV continues to take on a bigger role. He posted 17 points and 11 rebounds against Toronto and is averaging 14.3 points over his last three games. Jalen Hood-Schifino and Javonte Butler also chipped in with strong efforts, combining for 33 points in the loss.
Philadelphia is just 11-27 on the road and has failed to cover in 54 of 82 games this season. The Sixers rank 25th in scoring and last in total rebounds per game. They’ve hit the game total over in 52 of their last 86 games, often allowing big point totals on the defensive end.
Betting Prediction
New York is a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. That’s a large spread, but Philadelphia is extremely depleted and on a long losing skid. The Knicks are 25-12 at home and have won all three meetings against Philly this season.
Bridges and Anunoby should have another strong night against a thin 76ers roster. With Philly struggling to defend and rebound, this looks like a double-digit win for New York. A final score around 117-101 is a solid projection.
Pick: Knicks -14.5
This game is not likely going to be close. The Knicks smoke the 76ers on Tuesday in an Eastern Conference affair.
