The first Emirates NBA Cup games tip on Friday, and the spotlight will be on Philadelphia where the 76ers host the Knicks. The Sixers spoiled opening night for the Knicks last week, and the ‘Bockers will look to return the favor while getting back to .500 on the season.
Odds for this tilt are basically a pick’em, with the 76ers listed as 1.5-point favorites at some books while the Knicks are 1.5-point favorites at others.
Knicks vs. 76ers prediction, best bet
It took five games, but the Knicks finally look like they are knocking off the rust after a shaky start. The championship hangover is starting to subside as the Knicks used the first handful of games of the regular season as an extended preseason.
It’s abundantly clear when watching this team that they didn’t play a ton of basketball together in the offseason. Passes on cuts have gone into the third row, screens aren’t always solid, and defensive miscues pop up more frequently than we saw in the playoffs.
It’s also clear that they can still flip the switch in an instant — they were down 19 points to the Bulls midway through the third quarter, then outscored them by 25 points the rest of the way.
Now they get a rematch with Philly a little over a week after being reminded that last season’s dream run has ended.
The key for the Knicks will be slowing down Tyrese Maxey, which is about as easy as getting a car to slow down on the autobahn. Maxey torched the Knicks for 28 points in the opener and even made some key defensive plays in the win.
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The Knicks shot 37 percent from the floor, gave up 22 points on 14 turnovers, and were still in range to win the game down the stretch. The difference was Jalen Brunson missing shots he normally makes, but the captain looks like he found his form in Chicago after a 38-point night.
The Sixers have leaned on their defense, but their offensive identity isn’t fully formed yet — they rank 27th offensively through five games — and the Knicks have a better idea of how to attack them.
I like the Knicks on the moneyline in a Friday night thriller.
The Pick: Knicks moneyline (-102, bet365)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
