The defending champion New York Knicks will visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for a 2026 NBA Cup group play matchup at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET as New York seeks to build on consecutive wins, while Philadelphia looks to maintain its strong start to the season.
Matchup Background and Odds
New York enters the game with a 2-3 record after recovering from a slow start with victories against Chicago and Detroit to reach .500. Meanwhile, Philadelphia holds a 4-1 record, boasting the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings behind the healthy production of Joel Embiid, though Jaylen Brown is listed as doubtful with a knee injury. The teams previously played on opening night, when the 76ers secured a 106-100 victory.
According to CBS Sports Headlines, New York is listed as a 3.5-point favorite, with the over/under total set at 225.5 points. Both teams have trended heavily toward the Under, combining for an 8-2 Under record this season, while the money line sits at Knicks -155 and 76ers +130.
Model Predictions and Picks
The SportsLine Projection Model, which has simulated the game 10,000 times, recommends playing the Under at 225.5 points, projecting 225 combined points with the Under hitting 51% of the time. The simulation highlights Philadelphia’s strong early-season defense and Embiid’s ability to anchor the paint, noting that the last two games for the 76ers and four of the last five for the Knicks have gone Under. Additionally, the model’s simulations indicate that one side of the point spread hits in well over 60% of scenarios.
