Knicks favored by 3.5 points in Friday NBA Cup opener against 76ers
New York enters the matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 2-3 after two straight wins, while Philadelphia holds a 4-1 record and a 106-100 edge from their first meeting on October 20.
By Stefan Kim ·
The New York Knicks are listed as 3.5-point favorites when they travel to Philadelphia for a Friday night game at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The matchup marks the start of NBA Cup group play for both franchises.
The Knicks hold a 2-3 record after recovering from a 0-3 start with consecutive victories. The 76ers sit at 4-1 and defeated New York 106-100 in their opening meeting at Madison Square Garden on October 20. In that contest, Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points, and LeBron James contributed 14 in his debut for Philadelphia.
New York won its most recent game against the Chicago Bulls, erasing a 19-point deficit to win 133-127. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points and hit six 3-pointers. O.G. Anunoby added 23 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 13 rebounds. The Knicks outscored the Bulls by 43 points in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers also won on Wednesday, rallying past the Indiana Pacers 114-109. Maxey led the way with 27 points. Joel Embiid recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Brown contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds, while James provided 10 assists.
Betting markets show the Knicks at -148 on the moneyline, while the 76ers are +124. The total points line is set at 225.5. SportsLine forecasts a 117-110 victory for New York. The model assigns the Knicks a 66% chance to win outright and a 64% probability of covering the 3.5-point spread.
The Knicks have produced between 206 and 213 combined points in their first four games. Wednesday's game against Chicago was an outlier, finishing with 260 points. New York made 22 of 48 attempts from 3-point range in that contest.
Philadelphia has finished below 228.5 points in four of its five games. The exception was a 127-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, which produced 243 points. The 76ers average 110.8 points per game and allow 107.4 points per game over the first five contests.
The Knicks' previous win against the Detroit Pistons was a 111-97 victory that relied heavily on defense. In that game, New York outscored Detroit 37-13 in the third quarter. This approach contrasts with the fourth-quarter surge that secured the win in Chicago.
Source: CBS Sports
