After a low-scoring showdown on Sunday, where the Philadelphia 76ers retained the New York Knicks in a 79-73 duel, both teams are ready to return to New York on Tuesday evening.

Sunday marked the first NBA game since Denver’s 78-74 win over Minnesota on Jan. 6, 2016, where both teams managed to score fewer than 80 points.

Both teams are eager to put in a better performance on Tuesday, especially the Knicks, who posted their lowest offensive production since 2018 and the fewest points produced by an NBA team this season.

“We played like (expletive),” Knicks guard Josh Hart said. “We obviously didn’t shoot the ball well. The turnovers were bad. I think I had six or seven myself, but we have to try to drain it. I got them again on Tuesday – try to go out and play better.”

Despite the injuries, New York and Philadelphia continue to push for playoff position and climb the Eastern Conference standings.

Julius Randle (shoulder), Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and OG Anunoby (elbow) are on the mend for New York. On Sunday, Jalen Brunson played in his second game since suffering a bruised knee and struggling. Brunson scored 19 points on 6-of-22 shooting in the loss to the Sixers.

In total, the Knicks committed 19 turnovers, while shooting 26 of 80 (32.5%) and 9 of 40 (22.5%) from 3-point range as a unit.

They are 6-10 since the start of February, which includes losses in four of their last six games.

The Knicks hold a 2-1 lead in the season series, but the Sixers aim to even things up in their final meeting of the regular season.

Philadelphia improvised in the absence of leading scorers Tyrese Maxey (concussion) and Joel Embiid (knee), while Robert Covington (knee) and De’Anthony Melton (back) are dealing with long-term injuries.

Embiid and Maxey combine for 61.3 points per game. Before Philadelphia’s win over New York on Sunday, the Sixers were 0-7 this season with Embiid and Maxey not playing.

Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre Jr. doesn’t expect another low-scoring matchup Tuesday and hinted at a potential return for Maxey.

Maxey would provide an instant boost to the Sixers. He averages 26.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Maxey hasn’t played since the Sixers’ 120-116 win at Dallas on March 3 and his team is 1-3 during that stretch.

In two previous matchups against the Knicks this season, Maxey had 62 points, while shooting 45.5 percent.

“(Tuesday night will be) more physical,” Oubre said after Sunday’s victory. “Faster pace, obviously higher scores. We just have to do what we did, but better. We just have to do what we have to do to catch their counter-attacks, because I’m sure ( (Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau) is going to yell at them for two or three days to get them excited, but we’re excited too.

“I don’t think we did our best (Sunday). I didn’t do it in the second half, but at the end of the day the guys stepped up, so we’re going to do the same thing, but with Tyrese back.”

–Field level media

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