The Big Apple and Madison Square Garden will host an NBA showdown on Sunday when the Philadelphia 76ers (35-28, 7th Eastern Conference) visit New York Knicks (37-26, 4th Eastern Conference) in a matchup between two Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference rivals. Philadelphia was beaten by the New Orleans Pelicans 103-95 on Friday and the 76ers have lost three straight. New York beat the Orlando Magic 98-74 on Friday and the Knicks have won two of the last three. Philadelphia will play without De’Anthony Milton, Joel Embiid and Robert Covington, while Tyrese Maxey and Nicolas Batum are questionable. New York will play without OG Anunoby, Julius Randall and Mitchell Robinson.
When the shot clock is running, our NBA Pick rustle!
Philadelphia continues to struggle with injuries
Philadelphia averages 116.5 points per game, which ranks 13th in the NBA. The 76ers are 20th (46.8%) in field goal percentage and 22nd (35.8%) in three-point shooting percentage. Philadelphia’s defense is 14th in points allowed at 113.6 points per game. The 76ers are 17th (47.4%) in field goal percentage allowed and 6th (35.4%) in three-point shooting percentage allowed.
Philadelphia continues to play without its leading scorer and rebounder Joel Embiid, who was averaging 35.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game before getting injured. Second-leading scorer Tyrese Maxey was sidelined due to concussion symptoms but was seen during shootaround in New York on Friday and could play Sunday. Maxey averages 26.0 points per game and is the team leader in assists averaging 6.3 per game. Tobias Harris scores 17.5 points per game and is currently the rebounding leader averaging 6.2 rebounds per game. New York averages 43.0 rebounds per game, including 11.2 on the offensive glass and 31.8 on the defensive boards.
We have the best betting sites on the planet!
New York’s defense is its calling card
New York averages just 113 points per game, which ranks 21st in the NBA. The Knicks are 24th (46.3%) in field goal percentage and 14th (36.8%) in three-point shooting percentage. New York’s defense is what dictates the Knicks’ success, as New York is second in points allowed in the NBA with 109.3 points per game. New York is holding its opponents to 47.2 percent shooting overall and 37.1 percent shooting from three-point range, which are 16th and 18th, respectively.
Up for business ???? @PreciousAchiuwa
15 points | 14 REC | 5 BLACK | 4AST | 2 STLs https://t.co/YK8mOTsAGy pic.twitter.com/DP4VCWd6Zw
– NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 9, 2024
Jalen Brunson is New York’s leading scorer averaging 27.2 points per game and is also the Knicks’ leading point guard, averaging 6.5 assists per game. Randle averaged 24.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game before getting injured. Dante DiVincenzo averages 14.3 points per game, which ranks him second among active Knicks players. The top rebounder, with Randle and OG Anunoby sidelined, is Josh Hart averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. The Knicks are averaging 45.6 rebounds per game, including 12.9 on the offensive glass and 32.8 on the defensive boards.
The best pieces of Saturday
The best pieces of the day
Scott Steehn – 15-3 CBB Best Bet Run – Get Scott’s CBB Late-Night Banger for just $29 – CLICK HERE
MIT simulator – 15-5-1 NBA Totals Run – Snag MIT’s Saturday Night NBA Totals Crusher for Just $29 – CLICK HERE
David Hesse – 25-11 CBB Best Bet Run – Grab David’s college basketball total of the week for just $29 – CLICK HERE
David Delano – 21-8 CBB Run – Get David’s Saturday Night College Basketball Destroyer for Just $29 – CLICK HERE
Best bets for this game
Full Game Side Bet
Insider Status:
Rating:
New York is playing without its second-leading scorer and leading rebounder Julius Randle as well as two others – OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, but the Knicks continue to play exceptionally well on the defensive end, limiting their opponents to 109.3 points per game, which is the second behind the only one. Minnesota. Philadelphia is without its leading scorer and rebounder Joel Embiid and played Friday without its second-leading scorer and assists leader Tyrese Maxey, who could play Sunday. Philadelphia has lost three games in a row and the 76ers are 0-2-1 ATS during this three-game stretch. In fact, Philadelphia has only covered the spread in two of its last 10 games. It’s very noticeable that Embiid’s production is lacking with the big man sidelined, as Philadelphia has been held under 100 points in 4 of the last 9 games and the 76ers have lost eight of their Last 10 games in a row.
Prediction: New York Knicks will cover
Total choice of the complete game
Insider Status:
Rating:
The total has finished under in eight of the last 10 games played by New York and in seven of the last 10 games played by Philadelphia. This is largely due to injuries that keep top scorers sidelined and force Philadelphia and New York to rely more on defense than offense. New York is second in the NBA in points allowed. Philadelphia is 11th in offensive efficiency at 114.7, but that’s misleading because they’ve fallen significantly since losing Embiid. New York is 14th in offensive efficiency with 113.9. The Knicks are 11th in defensive efficiency with 111.6 while Philadelphia is tied for 14th with 112.5.
Prediction: UNDER
