Can 76ers, Embiid Climb Out of 2-0 Series Hole Against Knicks?
Knicks vs 76ers Expert Pick: Philadelphia -4.5 Home Favorite
The New York Knicks now own a commanding 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers following their dramatic comeback in Game 2.
Can the 76ers respond? Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series is slated for Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
With the series shifting to the City of Brotherly Love, the 76ers are -4.5 favorites and -180 on the moneyline for Game 3, with New York +150 to win outright. Meanwhile, the Over/Under is 202.5.
What should bettors expect? Read on as we break down both NBA teams and assess the odds before giving our Knicks vs 76ers expert pick.
Eastern Conference First Round: Game 3
Knicks vs 76ers 
Day/Time:
Location: Wells Fargo Center; Philadelphia
Streaming: TNT
Knicks vs 76ers Betting Trends
The New York Knicks are 44-37-3 against the spread, including 6-4 over their last 10 NBA games. A majority of New York’s games have trended toward the Under, as the Knicks are 38-46 against the Over/Under.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers are 49-36 ATS, covering at a rate of 57.7%. Only the Magic (60.7%) and Mavericks (58.3%) have been more reliable for bettors. As for the Over/Under, Philadelphia is 45-40.
Be sure to remember these betting trends when assessing our Knicks vs 76ers expert pick.
New York Showcasing Superior Depth
So far, so good for New York, which showcased its offensive depth in its dramatic Game 2 comeback. The Knicks got solid contributions from the likes of Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart and Miles McBride, overcoming another tough shooting performance from Jalen Brunson (29.1% this series, including 2 of 12 on 3-pointers).
Brunson is still averaging a team-high 23 points through two games, but his inefficiency from the floor remains a chief focus.
Without Julius Randle, who’s out for the NBA season following shoulder surgery, Brunson is carrying a lot of pressure to be the Knicks’ primary scorer. Brunson averaged a career-high 28.7 points during the regular season, including 22.3 against the 76ers.
New York is now the second-biggest favorite to win the Eastern Conference (+550) after leapfrogging Milwaukee. The Knicks are also +1700 to win the NBA title, the fourth-shortest NBA championship odds behind Boston (+130), defending champion Denver (+225) and Oklahoma City (+1500).
While NBA injuries were a concern down the stretch, the Knicks are relatively healthy again. That should ease most of the worries about their ceiling as a championship contender.
McBride’s emergence as a lightning bolt-scorer off the bench has been huge for New York’s rotation. The former second-round had 21 points in just 28 minutes in Game 1 and is averaging 15.0 points this series, almost twice his season average.
Embiid’s Health a Concern
The 76ers are now in an 0-2 series hole as questions about Joel Embiid’s health grow. The reigning NBA MVP continues to produce (31.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG) but has looked noticeably hobbled at times. Embiid was limited to just 39 regular-season games after suffering a torn left meniscus on Jan. 30.
Since returning on April 2, he clearly has not been at full strength.
Embiid appeared to aggravate the injury early in Game 1, only to return later in the game.
Any injury to Embiid is obviously a huge blow to Philadelphia’s title hopes. Without him, the 76ers will struggle to make this a series, let alone advance deep into the NBA playoff bracket. The 76ers finished 31-8 this season with Embiid and 16-27 without him.
Their NBA odds of winning the East have dropped to +1700, third-longest in the conference ahead of Indiana (+3500), Orlando (+18000) and Miami (+20000). They are also +4500 to win the NBA title.
Tyrese Maxey is performing at a high level alongside Embiid, averaging 34 points on 54.2% shooting this series. He narrowly missed a triple-double in Game 2, finishing with 35 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
But as impressive as he was, Maxey needed more help. Tobias Harris, in particular, has been woefully unproductive on the offensive end (8.5 PPG, 38.9% shooting) this series.
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