Knicks vs 76ers Prediction 5 May 2026
🔊 Can the visitors pull off another upset? In the second round of the NBA playoffs, New York will face Philadelphia. The hosts appear to be a more prestigious and consistent team. However, the Sixers have already triumphed in a series against a formidable opponent. It's likely to be a fiercely contested battle, with both sides focusing heavily on defense. A wild shootout like those seen in the regular season is unlikely to occur.
Head-to-Head
📊 The last matchup between these teams took place on February 12. New York secured a commanding victory with a score of 138-89. Looking at the last five head-to-head encounters, the Knicks hold a slight edge with a 3-2 record.
Head-to-head statistics Knicks - 76ers
New York Knicks Team Overview
At the moment, New York are looking like a highly competent team. They managed to overcome an early crisis in their series against Atlanta (4-2). The final game of the first-round series ended with a commanding 140-89 victory for the Knicks. They excelled both offensively and defensively. However, such an easy ride might pose a challenge for the team. They now face an opponent without any glaring weaknesses, so it's not realistic to expect Brown's squad to maintain a high tempo and take numerous open shots. Challenges will be more significant.
The home court factor is immensely important for New York. At home, the Knicks can comfortably be one of the slowest teams in the league, yet still average around 120 points per game. Their efficiency level is quite solid, including from the free-throw line. They have several players who draw fouls, with Jalen Brunson being particularly noteworthy. It's also notable that the hosts are among the league leaders in offensive rebounds, averaging 12.9 per game.
Match Results: New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers Team Overview
Philadelphia recently wrapped up their series against Boston with a thrilling 4-3 victory. The Sixers pulled off a remarkable comeback after trailing 1-3, defying skeptics and overturning longstanding statistics that initially gave them little hope. A key factor in the first-round scenario was the swift recovery of Joel Embiid from appendicitis, who emerged as a dominant force in the paint. This made their offense versatile and effective. Despite a modest pace, Game 7 ended with a 109-100 scoreline, showcasing the visitors' efficiency from all ranges.
The Sixers' strength lies in their defense, which has virtually no glaring weaknesses. Everyone on the team can defend, including strong options off the bench like Barlow, Bona, and Drummond, who can provide reliability in the paint and ease the burden on Embiid. Additionally, the team excels in steals, averaging nine per game, and defends well against three-pointers, with opponents converting just 35.5% of their attempts. The roster is in top shape, both physically and mentally. They have a real shot.
Match Results: Philadelphia 76ers
Latest news
New York Knicks
✅ New York head into the match with a full squad available.
📋 Projected lineup: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Anunoby, Towns.
Philadelphia 76ers
✅ All key players for Philadelphia are set to take the court.
📋 Projected lineup: Maxey, Edgecomb, George, Oubre, Embiid.
Prediction for the 1st quarter
Head-to-Head Matches:
- Total encounters - 63;
- First quarter wins at home for the hosts - 13; for the visitors on the road - 13;
- Average total points in the first quarter: 53.24;
- Today's home team averages 27.06, while the visitors average 26.17.
First Quarter Stats: New York Knicks (home) vs Philadelphia 76ers (away)
- Tournament matches played: 46 vs 45;
- Number of wins: 25 (54.35%) vs 21 (46.67%);
- Number of losses: 20 (43.48%) vs 23 (51.11%);
- Number of draws: 1 (2.17%) vs 1 (2.22%).
- Average points scored: 30 vs 30.04;
- Average points conceded: 27.11 vs 29.47.
Last 10 Matches (Overall):
- Number of wins: 7 vs 4;
- Number of losses: 3 vs 6;
- Number of draws: 0 vs 0;
- Average first quarter total: 53.3 (scored - 28.5, conceded - 24.8) vs 50.3 (scored - 24.3, conceded - 26).
- New York Knicks scored over 28.5 points in the 1st quarter in 8 of last 9 games against Philadelphia 76ers (NBA).
🔝 Top Scorers
The main star for New York remains Jalen Brunson. In a recent game against Atlanta, he wasn't particularly prolific (17 points), but the guard didn't take many shots. Over the season, he averages 25.8 points per game. In more crucial matchups with Atlanta, he has scored 28, 29, and 39 points. He will be the one to make the decisive plays in crunch time. Brunson is capable of pressuring Maxey. It's reasonable to consider Brunson's total over 26.5 points at odds of 1.91*.
Philadelphia boasts two distinctly different scorers: for much of the season, Tyrese Maxey has been the primary offensive option. He averages 28.2 points per game this season. In the 6th and 7th games of the series against Boston, he scored 30 each. Joel Embiid also stands out, averaging 28 points in the playoffs. Given New York center Towns' lack of physicality, Joel could very well excel. We suggest Embiid's total over 26.5 points at odds of 1.85*.
🏀 Three-Pointers
New York ranks among the best teams in the tournament for three-pointers, with an average success rate of 37.3%. However, in a recent game against Atlanta, they managed only 36.1%. It was the volume of attempts rather than their quality that helped them. Since Philadelphia defends the perimeter well, it's advisable to bet on New York's total three-pointers under 13.5 at odds of 1.71*.
Philadelphia doesn't always rely heavily on three-pointers. Yes, Maxey and George can catch fire, but the team averages just 35% from beyond the arc this season, ranking 23rd in NBA offensive ratings. Even after outplaying Boston in Game 7, the Sixers had a 39% accuracy but only attempted 28 shots. Considering the away factor, it makes sense to take Philadelphia's total three-pointers under 12.5 at odds of 1.91*.
*Odds are approximate and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
In this matchup, the New York basketball players are considered the favorites. They've had a more consistent season, often showcasing dominant basketball. The visitors, on the other hand, have been heavily reliant on their roster. Stability has been lacking. However, in their current configuration, the Sixers are more competitive than ever. Few in the league can shut down Joel Embiid for an entire series. Plus, Maxey is a challenging player to neutralize. New York also has its own stars. Both teams share a tendency to play at a slower pace. The playoffs are not the time for experimentation and open basketball. Our editorial team expects strong performances from the stars, but secondary options are unlikely to be effective and productive. Overall, the game should not be high-scoring. We'll go with total under 215.5 points.No comments
Betting Tips: New York Knicks - Philadelphia 76ers
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