76ers vs. Knicks Betting Preview & Pick | April 20/24

Philadelphia 76ers (47-35 SU, 49-32 ATS) vs. New York Knicks (50-32 SU, 45-36 ATS)

When: Saturday, April 20th, 6:00 PM (ET)

Where: Madison Square Garden, NY, New York

TV: ESPN

Point Spread: Phi +3/NY -3

Total: 208.5

Money Line: Philadelphia 76ers +129/-157

Notable Injuries

76ers

• Joel Embiid (Questionable) Knee
• Robert Covington (Out) Knee
• De’Anthony Melton (Out) Back

Knicks

• Julius Randle (Out) Shoulder

Game one of this Eastern Conference first-round series between the 76ers and Knicks is set for 6:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden in New York. ESPN is carrying the game on TV, and the Knicks are favored by three points at home. The over/under line is 208.5, and New York is -157 on the money line compared to the 76ers at +129.

Recent Form

Today, the 76ers are looking to extend their win streak to nine games as they take on the Knicks. Philadelphia is currently the 3rd seed in the Atlantic Division with a record of 47-35.

As the underdog, the 76ers have a record of 9-22 this season. Their ATS record as the underdog is 15-15, and they have covered the spread in their last three games as the underdog.

On the road, the 76ers have a straight-up record of 22-19 and an ATS record of 25-16. This season, they have gone 49-32 against the spread.

In their most recent game, the 76ers defeated the Nets by a score of 107-86. They were favored by 12.5 points going into the game and improved their ATS record to 34-17 as the favorite.

The O/U line for today’s game is set at 208.5 points. This season, the 76ers have played in just one game with a lower O/U line than that. On average, their games have finished with a combined score of 226.1 points.

Against the Eastern Conference, the 76ers have gone 31-21 compared to 16-14 in non-conference games. This has them in 7th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks come into today’s game favored by 3 points. As the favorite, the Knicks have a scoring differential of +9.8 points per game. This season, they have been favored in 47 of their 82 games.

New York’s ATS record as the favorite is 28-18 at home and 36-11 overall. However, they have failed to cover the spread in their last two games as the favorite.

In the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are currently in 2nd place with a record of 50-32. In non-conference games, they are 15-15 compared to 35-17 against other Eastern Conference teams.

The Knicks have won five straight games and are 22-19 ATS at home this season. In their last game, they defeated the Bulls by a score of 120-119. New York was favored by 13.5 points in that game.

This season, the Knicks have an O/U record of 36-45-1, and their games have averaged 221 points per game. In their last five games, the Knicks have gone over the O/U line.

The Historicals

The Knicks have had the better record vs the spread over the last 5 games, going 3-2. The team’s average scoring margin in these contests sits at 12 points per game. In these matchups, the teams have put together an over-under mark of 1-4. Combined, they averaged 198 points in these games.

Analysis

Joel Embiid is averaging 33 points per game over his last three games while hitting 53.4% of his shots from the field. In these games, he also averaged 3.3 made threes, 12 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. For the season, he is averaging 1.4 made threes per game and has a three-point shooting percentage of 38.8%. Tyrese Maxey has averaged 28.2 points in his last four games on a field goal percentage of 47.7%.

Philadelphia is averaging 114.6 points per game this season, which is 14th in the NBA. Their home scoring average is 115.5 points per game, compared to 113.7 on the road. The 76ers have averaged 23.6 free-throw attempts this season, which is the best mark in the league.

Currently, the 76ers’ defense holds the 9th rank in the NBA, allowing 111.5 points per game. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the 76ers squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 54.3% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 35.3% from downtown.

Overall, the Knicks are 19th in scoring at 112.8 points per game. When playing at home, they are 25th in the league, averaging 111.2 points per contest. New York is the slowest-paced team in the league, averaging just 94.8 possessions per game.

Jalen Brunson has been carrying the Knicks offense of late, averaging 39.4 points per game over his last five games. In this stretch, he hit 47.5% of his threes and 50.7% of his shots from the field. Donte DiVincenzo has also been shooting the ball well, averaging 20.6 points per game in his last five games. Josh Hart has been hitting the boards for the Knicks, averaging 11 rebounds per game in his last five games, along with 5.2 assists and 13.6 points.

Coming into today’s game, the Knicks’ defense is giving up an average of 108.2 points per contest. On two point field goal attempts, the Knicks’ defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 54.2% and allowing 36.2% from beyond the arc.

Betting Trends

• When looking at their past three road matchups, Philadelphia has an ATS record of 3-0 while averaging 119 per game. The team went 3-0 overall in these games.
• When looking at their past five home matchups, New York has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 113 per game. The team went 3-2 overall in these games.
• In their last five games as the betting underdog, the 76ers have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 4-1.
• Across their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Knicks have an overall record of 3-0 while going 1-2 against the spread.

Joe’s Pick To Cover The Spread

The Sixers pulled out a win over the Heat in their play in game to get to this point, but it might have been a different story had Jimmy Butler not gotten hurt. I see the Knicks coming out hungry in this one, and coming out of this with a statement win. My pick for game one is that the Knick not only win but cover at -3.