Newly acquired superstar James Harden made one hell of a debut for the Philadelphia 76ers this week and looks for follow up that first performance for Philly with another big day when Harden and the Sixers visit the New York Knicks.
Philadelphia is a hefty favorite for a Sunday matinee matchup inside basketball’s Mecca, closing out a three-game road trip against a Knicks squad mired in a nasty four-game funk.
New York actually won the first two meetings between these Atlantic Division rivals, but it’s clear the 76ers are a different beast with Harden in the lineup.
Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for Philadelphia at New York on February 27.
76ers vs Knicks odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
Philadelphia opened as a 7-point road favorite and has been bet up as high as -8.5. The total hit the board at 215.5 and has jumped to 217.5 with early play on the Over.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
76ers vs Knicks predictions
Predictions made on 2/27/2022 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2021-22 NBA season, here are two of the best bonuses available:
USA: New user big boost: Bet $1 on any NBA moneyline at DraftKings and get $150 in free bets if your team wins! Sign Up Now
Canada: Get a 100%-matched sign-up bonus (up to $400) at BetVictor. Claim Now
76ers vs Knicks game info
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• Date: Sunday, February 27, 2022
• Tip-off: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
76ers vs Knicks betting preview
Key injuries
76ers: No injuries to report.
Knicks: Quentin Grimes G (Questionable), Derrick Rose G (Out), Kemba Walker G (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Knicks are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.
76ers vs Knicks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
While it’s tough to weigh Harden’s influence based on just one game, you could do it by the size of Joel Embiid’s smile.
The Sixers center has been carrying the team on this back most of the season, facing the brunt of the opponent’s defensive efforts while still putting up MVP numbers. But one game with Harden on the perimeter has offered Embiid space he’s never experienced.
"That was probably the most wide-open I've ever been in my career," Embiid told the media following Friday’s 133-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which the Sixers’ 7-footer poured in 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting along with 10 rebounds and three assists.
It appears to be a symbiotic relationship brewing in Philadelphia, as Harden poured in 27 points, snatched eight boards and dished out 12 assists – five to Embiid - in the win over the T-Wolves.
With Harden at the wheel, the Sixers have found a new gear on offense. Before his arrival, the team ranked out 27th in pace rating (96.25) and averaged 17 points per game off transition (24th). Friday’s game revved the engines with a tempo of 102.0 and saw the 76ers score 23 points off fast breaks.
Not only does Harden give Philadelphia a playmaker in transition but boosts the 76ers’ already-potent post-up and isolation games. Philadelphia sits No. 1 and No. 3 in scoring frequency for both of those playsets. Harden’s passing and threat from beyond the arc make collapsing on Embiid inside a riskier move for opponents, and his one-on-one ability is a failsafe option when the shot clock ticks down.
In short, this Sixers offense is a handful.
Enter the Knicks, who are struggling on both ends of the floor during this four-game slide. New York owns a defensive rating of 114.3 in this span, losing to the likes of Portland, Oklahoma City and Brooklyn (without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant) before suffering a 15-point loss to the Miami Heat at home on Friday.
The spread for this game has already jumped a point and a half at some books, while others are dealing Philadelphia -8. It could continue to rise once the general public wakes up and piles on the Harden-fueled Sixers, so bet Philly now and avoid anything bigger later on.
Prediction: 76ers -8 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Defensively, it looks like the Knicks will have to pick their poison when it comes to slowing down the Sixers.
New York struggles with transition and post-up offenses – two playsets that anchor this Philadelphia attack. The Knicks ranked dead last in scoring frequency versus transition (1.2 points per play) and 29th in defending the post (scoring frequency of 51.5% for 1.04 points per play).
They’ve allowed an average of more than 116 points against during this four-game skid and most of those previous foes don’t come near the offensive punch Philly possesses, leading to a 3-1 Over/Under count during this span.
New York did get some offensive talent back on the floor versus Miami Friday. Versatile forward R.J. Barrett played more than 37 minutes and poured in 46 points – nearly half of the team’s total of 100 points - in his first game since February 8. Barrett left points on the table as well, shooting just 14 for 22 from the free-throw line.
The 216.5-point total seems modest considering how quickly the Sixers offense clicked in its first game with Harden and the increase in tempo and transition. These Atlantic Division foes have played Under in five straight meetings but you might as well trash those results now that Philly is living in the post-Harden world.
Prediction: Over 216.5 (-110)
Best bet
Embiid isn’t the only member of the Sixers benefitting from Harden’s presence. Fellow guard Tyrese Maxey had an impressive effort against Minnesota as well, scoring 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting in only 32 minutes.
The second-year guard out of Kentucky can share the ball-handling duties with Harden and play the role of a scorer when they share the floor, benefitting from all the attention Harden draws. Maxey also looked right at home with the uptick in tempo and was often the head-man pass on the fastbreak.
We mentioned the Knicks' troubles with transition and they’re especially lumbering at the guard spot, with Rose and Walker out. That leaves bigger guards Evan Fournier and Alec Burks in a foot race with the quicker Maxey.
He’s averaging more than 17 points on the season and his point total for Sunday’s afternoon tilt bounced between 15.5 (Over -124) and 16.5 (EVEN).
Given that Maxey has topped the taller end of that prop five times in nine games this month and scored 16 points in two others, we’re confident he’ll find his way Over the 16.5-point number today.
Pick: Tyrese Maxey Over 16.5 points (+100)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA 76ers vs. Knicks predictions and picks in a single-game parlay, you could win $62.89 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
