76ers vs Knicks Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 2/26/25
- J.A. Cavalier
- Feb 26
- 3 min read
PHILADELPHIA @ NEW YORK (NYK -10, 231)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
SIXERS @ KNICKS 2/26/25
The Philadelphia 76ers may be the cure-all for the New York Knicks' problems, based on their performance thus far this season. In a matchup of longtime rivals, the Knicks and 76ers will both be hoping to end slumps when New York hosts Philadelphia tonight.
The Knicks haven't played since losing 118-105 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. The 76ers lost to the visiting Chicago Bulls 142-110 on Monday night, their eighth consecutive loss. The Knicks, who are currently tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for the fifth-best NBA record at 37-20 and in third place in the Eastern Conference. New York continued a depressing trend with their loss to the Celtics.
The Knicks are now 0–7 against the league's top three teams, including conference leaders Cleveland and Oklahoma City, as well as defending NBA champion Boston. The Knicks' average loss margin in those games is 20.1 points per game. That number rose during a short two-game road trip that started last Friday with the Cavaliers' 142-105 thumping of New York. That was the Knicks’ most lopsided loss of the season.
With a 27-point lead early in the third quarter on Sunday, the Celtics looked destined for a lopsided victory. However, a 35–12 run brought them within 89–85 before Boston pulled away in the closing minutes. The Knicks hope that is something they can build upon.
The injured 76ers have the longest losing streak in the NBA right now and the longest for the team since the 2016–17 season. That was the last time Philadelphia missed the playoffs. With the loss, the 76ers fell 2.5 games behind the Bulls in the battle for 10th place in the Eastern Conference. That, of course, is the final spot in the play-in tournament.
Joel Embiid, who is still dealing with a chronic left knee injury, missed his second game in the last four on Monday. The 76ers only led once against the Bulls on Monday, at 2-0, and were behind by as many as 50 points. This season, the 76ers are 12-26 without Embiid, but they have had trouble even when he is healthy. When Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Embiid are all in the same game, Philadelphia is 7-6. When Embiid is in the lineup, they are 8-11.
The 76ers have given up more points in a season than they have since the 1972–73 season. That’s the season they set an NBA record with 73 losses. Opponents are averaging 113.5 points per game against Philadelphia.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
TYRESE MAXEY OVER 3.5 REBOUNDS
This number opened at 2.5 and is now sitting at 3.5 where it has been for each of Maxey’s last 10 games. He’s gone Over this number in 3 of his last 5 games. In 13 career games against the Knicks, Maxey has averaged 3.8 rebounds per game and the Knicks allow 5.5 boards to opposing point guards. In 3 of his last 4 games against the Knicks, Maxey has 4 or more rebounds. With Embiid out tonight, there will be a few more rebounds to grab tonight which will help Maxey’s cause.
