Home / NBA / Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks Predictions & Picks – Knicks To Down Superstar Sixers Line-Up In NBA Opener
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks Predictions & Picks – Knicks To Down Superstar Sixers Line-Up In NBA Opener
- New York predicted to cover spread and win against 76ers on opening night
- Philadelphia debuts LeBron James and Jaylen Brown but may need time to gel
- Knicks retain championship core and are more settled side for season opener
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks Predictions & Picks
New York are tipped to cover as they make a winning start to their title defence.
Philadelphia arrive with a loaded roster after some big offseason moves, but this new look Sixers line-up could need some time to gel and iron out early teething problems.
The Knicks return the core of their championship roster and are the more settled group.
- New York Knicks are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings
- New York Knicks had a 75% win percentage at home last season
- New York Knicks covered in 37 of their 49 home games last season
Head To Head
- Philadelphia 76ers lead the all-time series 289-234
- New York Knicks won 144-114 when the two teams last met in May 2026
Philadelphia 76ers Form
Philadelphia go into their opening game of the season having finished the pre-season with three consecutive defeats.
The Phillies opened with a 120-97 win at home to the Knicks, but failed to follow that up on the road as they were beaten 114-108 in Brooklyn, 144-106 at Boston, and 125-120 at home by the Celtics.
However, that has done nothing to dampen expectations surrounding the team following a massive offseason that saw them make two huge moves.
Philadelphia won the race to sign LeBron James following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.
And on top of that, the 76ers also agreed to a blockbuster trade with Boston that resulted in Jaylen Brown being added to the roster.
New York Knicks Form
New York also enter Tuesday night’s matchup having lost the bulk of their pre-season outings.
The Knicks, who beat San Antonio 4-1 in last season’s NBA Finals, kicked off preparations for the defence of their NBA crown with a 120-97 defeat in Philadelphia.
They then dropped back-to-back home games against Washington, 111-109, and Minnesota, 122-104, before heading to Toronto for a 148-98 defeat to the Raptors.
New York did manage one pre-season win though, as they returned home to beat the Raptors 122-120.
The Knicks come into the new campaign having lost Mitchell Robinson in free agency in the offseason, but having retained the core of the roster that won the NBA title last season.
Verdict
All eyes will be on Philadelphia this season after they loaded up star talent, but this group is going to need some time to settle.
That is not the case for a settled Knicks team that went all the way last season, so we are backing New York to deliver at the Garden on opening night.
That is not the case for a settled Knicks team that went all the way last season, so we are backing New York to deliver at the Garden on opening night.
Leigh Copson
Sports Editor • 25+ Years Experience, US & Combat Sports Specialist
US sports writer covering the NFL, NBA, NHL, boxing and MMA, with previews, predictions and betting tips across the major American leagues.
During his career at the Press Association and online sports sites including FreeTips and ExpertPicks.com, he has covered some of the biggest sporting events on the planet, including the Super Bowl, the Champions League Final and the World Cup Final.
He has also covered almost every major boxing match and UFC fight card during this time.. His specialist sports are American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Football.