The NBA Cup kicks off for its second season on Tuesday, and in one of the big games of the first day of play in the group stage, the New York Knicks travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. Both teams were expected to be among the league’s best after impressing with their offseason moves, but neither team got off to a great start in the first few weeks. The new Knicks have been working hard on incorporating some new pieces and rotation players into their roster, so it’s understandable that they haven’t been perfect through the first ten games. That said, the results are still quite concerning for what has been an inconsistent group thus far, especially when it comes to closing out games against playoff teams in the 4th quarter (remember Sunday’s loss to Indiana). Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia will be a good test to see how this Knicks team stacks up against a fellow Eastern Conference team looking to make a deep playoff run.

As for the hosts, the Sixers are currently 2-7 and have struggled mightily without Joel Embiid in the fold. However, Embiid will return from injury on Tuesday, which significantly increases the offensive ceiling for Philadelphia, especially in this matchup. The Knicks have had a lot of trouble protecting the paint this season, as Karl-Anthony Towns and company rank 29th in the league in defending at the rim, while also struggling to defend the three-point line . That poses problems against a Sixers team that should play through Embiid when he’s on the floor, which should create higher scoring opportunities for players like Paul George, Jared McCain and others on the perimeter. On the other side of the ball, the Sixers’ defense ranks just 20th in defensive rating this season, and they will face a Knicks team that ranks second in offensive rating and should look to create mismatches with Jalen Brunson and Towns. the circumference. While these teams were strong on defense a season ago, this particular game should produce plenty of points, so let’s take the lead in Philadelphia.

Knicks vs 76ers prediction: Over 216 available at time of publication. Playable up to 216.5

If you’re looking for a new sportsbook, check out Bet365, the world’s #1 sportsbook. They have a great sign up offer where you can INSTANTLY receive €150 in bonus bets on a €5 bet, regardless of whether that bet wins or loses! There is no catch, it really is that simple. ⏰ in time to fade or follow our experts’ Knicks vs 76ers predictions.