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76ers vs Knicks Predictions & Expert Picks (Game 2)

Chris Wright

By Chris Wright in NBA Basketball

Published:


Jalen Brunson tangles with the 76ers again in Game 2.
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
  • The New York Knicks look to leverage their offensive efficiency to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over Philadelphia
  • Nearly 80% of the spread handle backs the Knicks to cover the -6.5 line
  • We break down the key trends and metrics, and deliver expert picks for 76ers at Knicks on Wednesday night

Game 1 didn’t require much analysis: Whatever could have gone right for the host New York Knicks did. Whatever could have gone for the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. The result was a 139-98 blowout.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is tonight at Madison Square Garden (7 pm, ET, ESPN).

The Knicks are consensus 7.5-point favorites, anchored by the elite playmaking of Jalen Brunson and the interior dominance of Karl-Anthony Towns. Meanwhile, the 76ers find themselves as road underdogs, once again without Joel Embiid (OUT, hip/ankle), and desperately needing Paul George to recalibrate their halfcourt offense and shore up a leaky transition defense.

This preview analyzes key matchups and trends, identifies value in the betting lines, and highlights the actionable data required to build a statistically sound wager for tonight’s Game 2 between Philadelphia and New York.

76ers vs Knicks Odds

The graphic above shows the best available odds, which are subject to change

Knicks vs 76ers Game 2 Best Bets

Pick #1: Knicks -7.5 (-110 at Bet365)

Laying 7.5 points with the Knicks in Game 2 offers the highest Expected Value (EV) on the board. The Knicks have been a machine at sustaining momentum, covering the spread at a 77.8% clip (7-2 ATS) following a straight-up win over their last nine occurrences. The Knicks are also 4-1 ATS (80.0%) across their last five overall outings. While the 76ers have shown historical resilience, going 3-1 ATS in their last four playoff matchups as underdogs, their inability to solve this specific defensive front is glaring. The 76ers have lost three consecutive head-to-head games against the Knicks (see table below for full results this season). Given the rebounding disparities and transition efficiency, laying the points with the favorites offers the most mathematically sound wager. That was the case even before Embiid was ruled officially out tonight.

DateGameWinnerScoreNYK Leading ScorerNYK PtsPHI Leading ScorerPHI Pts
2026-05-04EC Semis G1Knicks137-98Jalen Brunson35Paul George17
2026-02-11REG #4Knicks138-89Jose Alvarado26Tyrese Maxey32
2026-01-24REG #3Knicks112-109Jalen Brunson31Joel Embiid38
2026-01-03REG #276ers119-130Jalen Brunson31Tyrese Maxey36
2025-12-19REG #176ers107-116Jalen Brunson / Karl-Anthony Towns22Tyrese Maxey30

Pick #2: Over/Under: Over 215.5 (-110 at Bet365): The situational data also strongly supports a high-scoring environment. The Over has cashed in four of the Knicks’ last five games when they take the floor as a betting favorite (80.0% hit rate). This confirms that when the Knicks dictate the pace and offensive flow, their scoring production consistently surges past the oddsmakers’ projections.

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76ers vs Knicks Top Prop Bet

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 Points (-122 at DraftKings): Brunson scored 35 in the Game 1 blowout. New York’s offense runs through Brunson’s elite usage rate, giving bettors a strong statistical edge against a struggling perimeter defense. Check out his game log vs. the 76ers this season:

DateGameResultScorePTSREBASTTOVSTLBLKFG3PFTMIN
2026-05-04EC Semis G1W137-98351312012/183/68/830.7
2026-02-11REGW138-898442003/62/30/030.0
2026-01-24REGW112-109315620011/246/123/537.9
2026-01-03REGL119-130314440010/212/49/1234.6
2025-12-19REGL107-11622690007/221/77/836.8
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  • Knicks ATS Form: The Knicks are 4-1 (80.0%) against the spread over their last five games.
  • Knicks ATS After a Win: The Knicks are highly reliable at keeping momentum, going 7-2 (77.8%) against the spread following a straight-up victory over their last nine occurrences.
  • Knicks Home Dominance: The Knicks have posted a 3-1 ATS (75.0%) record at home during the 2025 postseason, continuing a 67.5% regular-season success rate at Madison Square Garden.
  • Knicks Playoff Favorites: When positioned as the betting favorite during the current playoffs, the Knicks cover the number at a 71.4% rate (5-2 ATS).
  • Situational Over/Under: The total has gone OVER in 80.0% of the Knicks’ last five games when they are playing as the favorite.

76ers vs Knicks Postseason Team Statistics

The statistical breakdown below highlights both teams’ performance averages during the playoffs, alongside their respective league rankings among the 16 postseason teams.

StatisticKnicks76ers
Points Per Game120.6 [1st]103.0 [11th]
Points Allowed Per Game100.0 [t-2nd]110.4 [11th]
Offensive Rating121.4 [2nd]106.6 [t-8th]
Defensive Rating101.1 [2nd]114.2 [14th]
Field Goal %51.8% [1st]44.2% [9th]
3-Point Attempts Per Game32.0 [11th]32.5 [9th]
3-Point %40.2% [1st]35.4% [6th]
Opponent 3-Point %31.9% [t-3rd]35.6% [11th]
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio1.9 [t-4th]1.8 [6th]
Rebound Percentage55.8% [1st]46.3% [14th]
Second Chance Points Per Game18.1 [2nd]12.2 [t-13th]
Pace96.6 [t-5th]94.0 [13th]

Knicks vs 76ers Public Betting Splits

NBA public betting trends reveal complete alignment between casual tickets and sharp handle across the spread, moneyline, and total markets. On the spread, 73.5% of betting tickets and a commanding 79.9% of the overall money are laying the 6.5 points with the Knicks. For a true sharp versus public disparity to materialize, one side needs to command over 60% of the tickets while the opposite draws over 60% of the money. Because both metrics heavily concentrate on the favorites, there is no sharp divide here; the larger, more respected wagers comfortably side with the masses.

In the moneyline market, the Knicks hold 81.3% of the tickets and 63.4% of the cash. The 36.6% stake on the 76ers indicates mild speculative underdog action, but not enough to counteract the dominant favorite handle.

The most decisive consensus lies in the total market. A staggering 90.9% of tickets and 92.6% of the money are backing the Over. This immense collective confidence mirrors the statistical modeling that projects a fast-paced, highly efficient Knicks offense. While public sentiment should never be the sole justification for a wager, seeing the money percentage so perfectly mirror the statistical advantages of the Over 215.5 reinforces the angle.

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Chris Wright

A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Chris Wright is an Evergreen and AI editor for Saturday Down South, Saturday Tradition, Crossing Broad, Sports Betting Dime and ESNY.

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