76ers vs Knicks Odds and Picks
- New-look 76ers visit the Knicks for a Sunday matinee on ABC
- James Harden had 27 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds in his Philly debut
- Find the odds, betting analysis, and prediction below
The New York Knicks’ hopes for a playoff berth are closing rapidly.
Sunday’s opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers, have seen their championship window open widely, after unveiling prized trade pickup James Harden Friday night.
It makes for a lopsided affair when these teams tip off the NBA Sunday slate at 1pm ET from Madison Square Garden.
The game can be seen live on ABC, and the visitors are favored by a hefty 7.5-point spread.
76ers vs Knicks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | -7.5 (-110) | -303 | Over 215.5 (-110) |
| New York Knicks | +7.5 (-110) | +240 | Under 215.5 (-110) |
Odds as of Feb 26 at BetMGM
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Philadelphia 76ers Betting Analysis
It may be his third team in less than two seasons, but James Harden may have just found the perfect place to go ring hunting.
The Beard showcased the elite level perimeter player Philly has been looking to pair with Joel Embiid for years, putting up 27 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in his 76ers debut.
James played Hard(en) last night. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hRebofdTnY
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 26, 2022
Better yet, his performance in a 133-102 win over the Timberwolves didn’t detract from Embiid, the current favorite in the 2022 NBA MVP odds. The big man poured in a game-high 34 points and 10 boards, praising the easy looks he was getting with having Harden on the floor.
34 PTS | 10 REB | 3 AST
"That was probably the most wide open I've ever been in my career." – @JoelEmbiid
🎥 presented by @PALottery pic.twitter.com/VT7dUxVufq
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 26, 2022
As a team, Philly shot 51.2% from the field, and drilled 19-for-39 from deep, a crisp 48.7% clip. Harden led the way, hitting 5-for-7 from downtown.
His arrival as a clear co-star to Embiid also slots Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris into their more supercharged third and fourth-wheel roles. Maxey shined Friday, dropping 28 points on 12-for-16 shooting, including four steals.
Career threes as a Sixer:
5 — James Harden in 1 game
5 — Ben Simmons pic.twitter.com/yBPWQAzkV8— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 26, 2022
The 76ers have now reeled off five wins in their last six, and three straight on the road. Their 20 road wins ties them with Miami for most in the conference.
New York Knicks Betting Analysis
If you’re counting this season as a chance the Knicks can still make some noise, then Friday’s 115-100 loss to the Heat was disheartening.
That’s New York’s eighth loss in nine games, and plunged them 3.5 games behind the Hawks for the final play-in spot in the East, before Saturday’s games. They’re a lengthy +1100 to make the NBA playoffs.
Only three players 21 & under with 7️⃣ 30+ point games this season:
RJ Barrett 👑
Anthony Edwards
LaMelo Ball pic.twitter.com/LbZcch3H09— x – KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) February 26, 2022
If you’re looking at this as a sunken year, and development is your thing, then woah, Knicks fans should be excited.
Knicks wing RJ Barrett, the third pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, dropped a career-high 46 points against Miami, doing everything but pull out the win, as New York dropped its fourth straight. The 21-year-old also added nine boards.
It’s the highest output from a Knicks drafted player since Patrick Ewing hung 46 against the Celtics in March of 1995, and the most by any Knick since Carmelo Anthony had 46 against the Jazz in November of 2014.
Julius Randle continues to have a difficult time against Bam Adebayo’s defense. pic.twitter.com/jtxo5GXUzH
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) February 26, 2022
Not much else went right that night: the rest of the starters totaled 36 points, with Julius Randle shooting a miserable 2-for-15 for 11 points. The bench added just 18 combined.
The team won’t have Derrick Rose (ankle) back until March, and Quentin Grimes (kneecap) and Luka Samanic (heel) will also miss Sundays game.
76ers vs Knicks Prediction
This will be the third meeting between these teams this season, with the Knicks having won the previous two. The latest was a 103-96 win back on Nov 8. Randle had 31 points and 12 boards. Embiid was out of the lineup.
The 76ers had won the previous eight head-to-heads before that.
The circumstances in this one, however, are different, with the infusion of a previous MVP to run alongside Embiid.
This is what the Sixers were missing for the past five years and truth be told have been missing since the Allen Iverson era: A perimeter shot creator and bucket getter. The most important player in basketball.
They got it now with James Harden.
🎥 @sixers pic.twitter.com/mD2ftC9jCm
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) February 26, 2022
Philly has put up at least 119 points in each of their last three road games, while the Knicks have surrendered at least 110 in nine straight.
The 76ers are a solid road bet, going 19-11 ATS away from home this season — the fourth best winning percentage in the NBA this season. New York, meanwhile, is 13-18 straight up and ATS at MSG this year.
An afternoon national slot should be a great chance to showcase one of the legit challengers in the NBA Championship odds. Look for the Sixers to make quick work of their Atlantic Division foes, and roll.
The pick: 76ers -7.5 (-110)
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Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
