Can Jalen Brunson, Knicks Close Out Series In Five Games?
The 76ers vs Knicks Odds Have New York Favored By Two Possessions
By the end of Game 4, New York took over Wells Fargo Center with anti-Joel Embiid chants. The Knicks ultimately stunned the 76ers in Game 4, earning a 97-92 victory over Philadelphia. It was the first time a road NBA team won in this series.
With the win, the Knicks are headed home for Game 5 with the chance to finish the 76ers for good.
New York didn’t have high offensive production from most of their players in this game. However, Jalen Brunson carried the Knicks with 47 points on 18-for-34 from the field.
He also added ten assists in 44 minutes. Meanwhile, Josh Hart added four points but contributed 17 rebounds, and O.G. Anunoby scored the second-highest total of 16 points with 14 rebounds.
The Knicks have beaten the 76ers three different ways in three different games in this series. Therefore, oddsmakers have the Knicks as four-point favorites at home in Game 5 with the total sitting at 204. So what will they do in Game 5 to get the win?
Take a glance at the 76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 5 of the series, scheduled for Tuesday.
Knicks vs 76ers 
Day/Time:
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Streaming: TNT
Knicks vs 76ers Odds & Trends
Through four games this series, the Knicks and 76ers have each won the NBA spreads head-to-head twice. The Over and Under have also hit twice. However, the Knicks have won three games straight up, while the 76ers have only won one.
Over the last ten NBA games between the Knicks and 76ers, New York has won 70%, while the Under has hit in seven of ten games. When the Knicks play at a high level defensively, the 76ers have trouble winning against New York.
Joel Embiid Disappointed In Fans
Embiid has done everything he can for the 76ers and their fanbase. In four games against the Knicks, the all-star center and former MVP has scored 35 points, nine rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
He’s done all this despite not being fully healed from his surgery a little over two months ago and Bell’s Palsy.
That said, the 76ers allowed the Knicks fans to take over at Wells Fargo Center. It’s happened in both games against Philadelphia, but it’s totally unlike the fanbase.
Philadelphia has a rich history of success and passionate fanbases. Still, the crowd in Philadelphia was screaming curse words to Embiid, with loud chants for the Knicks around the entire building.
When Embiid was asked about it, he told the media he was disappointed to see it.
Precious Achiuwa Gave Big Minutes In Game 4
The Knicks ruled Mitchell Robinson out of Game 4 due to a sprained ankle. Robinson got that sprain from one of Joel Embiid’s dirty plays.
Therefore, the Knicks asked Precious Achiuwa to give them big minutes off the bench. He’s basically taking over for Robinson right now.
In 20 minutes off the bench, Achiuwa added one point but added seven rebounds and played tough defense to help the Knicks get by the 76ers. His impact might go unnoticed in the NBA box score, but it won’t to the eye test.
When The Knicks Defend Well, They’re Hard To Beat
The only loss for the Knicks in this series against the 76ers was a matchup where they gave up 125 points to the 76ers, including 75 to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
In that Game 3 loss, Embiid saw 21 foul shots and got his way almost every time down the court.
While Embiid still got to the foul line at a high rate in Game 4, he took just 14 foul shots and hit only 7-for-19 from the field. That included a 1-for-6 day from downtown, too.
The 76ers lack depth. If Embiid and Tyrese Maxey aren’t scoring 75+ points, it’s hard for them to win.
Like most games, no player on the 76ers scored more than 19 points for the 76ers in Game 4. Only three NBA players scored more than 10 points. In the NBA, depth matters.
Just look at how the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and Minnesota Timberwolves have played.
However, the 76ers, again, can’t rely on anyone else but a hobbled Embiid and a guard in Maxey is probably not ready for the full spotlight yet.
But Jalen Brunson of the Knicks is the one guy ready for the spotlight. He finished Game 4 with 47 points on the road and hit 18-for-34 from the field.
Brunson doesn’t always have to shoot this much for the Knicks to win. They’ve scored at a high rate via offensive rebounds, and other guys are contributing.
But Game 4 was his game. He also almost saw the foul line as much as Embiid, which is something the Knicks had been begging for after Game 3’s debacle.
Overall, the Knicks could’ve been better at the foul line. Still, the defense did its part, holding the 76ers to 35.4% from the field. The Knicks also allowed just nine offensive rebounds and won the defensive battle on the glass.
That said, New York didn’t force many turnovers and rarely got fast break points. But the Knicks tend to play well when games get low-scoring.
Now, the Knicks will head back home to Madison Square Garden for the chance to advance to the next round in five games. The oddsmakers didn’t expect this at all. They actually had the 76ers favored to win the series despite the Knicks being the No. 2 seed.
But as suggested earlier, depth matters. The Knicks can rely on many different styles to win games. They also have a full roster of players they trust. Nick Nurse can’t say the same about his roster with the 76ers.
With Mitchell Robinson’s potential return for Game 5, give us the Knicks to close out the series and cover the spread. Still, you might not want to play any NBA player props for Robinson in Game 5. Just stick with the spread with these 76ers vs Knicks odds.
For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
