New York Knicks vs Philadelphia-76ers Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025

New York Knicks vs Philadelphia-76ers February 26th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the 20-37 76ers will take on the 37-20 Knicks at Madison Square Garden. New York is currently favored by 10 points, and the over/under line is set at 231.

This Eastern Atlantic division matchup will be televised on ESPN.

Struggling with your NBA bets? Find insights from top handicappers.

76ers vs. Knicks Key Information

Philadelphia’s season continued to unravel on Monday, as they fell to 20-37 after a 142-110 loss to the Bulls. The 76ers were favored by 6 points at home but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 252 points exceeded the O/U line of 234.5 by 17.5 points.

Philadelphia fell behind early, trailing 39-30 after the 1st quarter and 75-58 at halftime. The Bulls took control with a 40-18 3rd quarter, and a 10-0 run by the 76ers in the 4th quarter wasn’t enough to close the gap.

In their 142-110 loss to the Bulls, the 76ers struggled offensively, shooting just 38.9% from the field and hitting 25% of their three-pointers, making only 10 from beyond the arc. Paul George and Kelly Oubre each scored 19 points, with Oubre adding 8 rebounds and shooting 53.8% from the floor.

Tyrese Maxey contributed 13 points, while David Roddy and Ricky Council added 12 points each, with Roddy scoring all of his points in the 4th quarter and Council adding 10 in the final period. George scored 9 of his 19 points in the 2nd quarter, while Oubre added 7 points in the 3rd.

The 76ers struggled defensively against the Bulls, giving up 142 points in a tough loss. They allowed 39 points in the 1st quarter and 40 in the 3rd, with Chicago shooting 50% from the field.

Philadelphia also had trouble defending the three, with the Bulls hitting 18 threes at a 45% clip. The 76ers sent Chicago to the line 36 times, where they made 34 free throws. Defensively, the 76ers recorded 11 steals and 5 blocks.

The Knicks fell to 37-20 on the season after a 118-105 road loss to the Celtics on Sunday. New York entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 223 points fell short of the 231.5-point O/U line.

Boston jumped out to a 16-3 lead with an 11-0 run and led 38-19 after the 1st quarter. The Knicks responded with a strong 3rd quarter, outscoring the Celtics 39-25, but Boston pulled away in the 4th, winning the final period 29-23.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 24 points and 18 rebounds in their 118-105 loss to the Celtics, hitting 3 threes at a 75% clip. Jalen Brunson added 22 points, connecting on 4 threes at 44.4%, while Josh Hart contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, shooting 57.1% from the field.

The Knicks made 14 threes, shooting 38.9% from beyond the arc, and finished with an overall field goal percentage of 43.5%. Towns scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Brunson added 15 in the same period. Mikal Bridges scored 12 of his 14 points in the 4th quarter.

The Knicks gave up 38 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up in the 2nd and 3rd, allowing 26 and 25 points, respectively. However, they couldn’t contain the Celtics in the 4th, giving up 29 points, leading to a 118-105 loss.

New York allowed Boston to shoot 49% from the field, including 17 made threes at a 38% clip. The Celtics also went 11/11 from the free-throw line. The Knicks finished with 33 defensive rebounds, gave up 12 offensive boards, and recorded 4 steals and 1 block.

Not only do we have the Knicks winning this one by a score of 128-105, but we see them covering the spread. Our pick is to grab the Knicks at -10.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 231 and our model has the 76ers and Knicks finishing with a combined 233 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Wondering Who To Bet On Tonight?

Explore Expert NBA Picks And Make Confident Bets!

Sign Up!

Knicks Host Sixers with Both Trying to Snap Slumps

If the New York Knicks‘ track record this season is any indication, the tonic for what ails them might be the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Knicks and 76ers will each be looking to snap slumps Wednesday night, when New York hosts Philadelphia in a battle of longtime rivals.

The Knicks have been off since Sunday, when they fell to the host Boston Celtics 118-105. The 76ers suffered their eighth straight loss Monday night, when the visiting Chicago Bulls rolled to a 142-110 victory.

Knicks Searching for Breakthrough Against Top Teams

New York, currently third in the Eastern Conference at 37-20, has struggled against the NBA’s top teams. The Knicks are 0-7 against the league’s top three teams—the Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Their average margin of defeat in those games is a staggering 20.1 points.

Their latest tough loss came against Boston, where they trailed by as many as 27 points before mounting a spirited 35-12 run to cut the deficit to four. However, the Celtics pulled away down the stretch.

“Whatever we did in the first, second, and fourth quarter doesn’t really matter,” Knicks guard Jalen Brunson said. “The third quarter, what we showed was how we can play and how we can compete.”

Sixers Struggling to Stay Afloat

Philadelphia’s current eight-game losing streak is the longest active skid in the NBA and their longest since the 2016-17 season—the last time they missed the playoffs. Injuries have been a major factor, particularly for star Joel Embiid, who sat out Monday’s game against Chicago due to a chronic knee issue.

Without Embiid, the Sixers fell behind early, trailed by as many as 50 points, and never recovered. They now sit 2.5 games behind the Bulls for the final Eastern Conference play-in spot.

Even when relatively healthy, the Sixers have struggled. They are 12-26 without Embiid, but even with him in the lineup, they are just 8-11 this season. When their trio of Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey have played together, Philadelphia is only 7-6.

“Regardless of who’s playing, for this group to believe that we can make a push towards the playoffs, we’ve shown no signs of a team that will compete,” Paul George said. “We just don’t have the habits of a champion or what a playoff team would have.”

Can the Knicks or Sixers Get Back on Track?

Both teams are searching for answers as they aim to reverse their recent struggles. The Knicks will try to take advantage of a reeling Sixers squad, while Philadelphia hopes to avoid a ninth straight loss and stay in the playoff race.

Looking to bet smarter? Get expert NBA picks now.