- What: NBA Cup Tournament Game
- When: November 12, 2024
- Who: New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Where: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)
The NBA Cup kicks off its second season on Tuesday, with a highly anticipated matchup as the New York Knicks visit the Philadelphia 76ers.
Following significant offseason moves, both teams were projected to be top contenders this season, but they have yet to hit the ground running in the early weeks of the campaign.
New York Knicks
Center Karl-Anthony Towns has been outstanding for the Knicks this season, averaging 24.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game with an impressive shooting percentage of over 50% from the floor.
His performance has been particularly strong in the last three games, averaging 32.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per contest. With Towns in this form, the Knicks are poised to compete in every matchup.
Ready for the next one ???? pic.twitter.com/sOj71O9bpQ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 12, 2024
The Knicks excel as a team, with a shooting percentage of 49%, ranking fourth in the NBA. They also stand out in three-point shooting, with the third-best percentage in the league.
Additionally, New York is effective at the free-throw line. Their ability to convert shots consistently will be crucial on Tuesday night if they aim to secure a victory.
The Knicks have struggled significantly with paint protection this season. They rank 29th in the league in rim defense and have had difficulty defending the three-point line.
The silver lining for New York is that the 76ers have struggled defensively this season.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have some fantastic news ahead of this game: Center Joel Embiid is back after serving a three-game suspension. Since he hasn’t played this season, his return will be vital for the team.
As an elite scorer, Embiid brings exactly what Philadelphia needs, and his presence should significantly boost their chances of winning more games as the season progresses.
Last season, the 76ers had an impressive record of 31-8 with Embiid on the floor, while they struggled to a 16-27 record without him.
The team averaged over 120 points per game when he played, but that number dropped to under 110 when he was absent.
*Joel Embiid plays basketball today*@smartwater pic.twitter.com/oqD7K5R9XD
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 12, 2024
With Embiid back in action, fans can expect a noticeable improvement in performance compared to the start of the season.
Philadelphia also added forward Paul George to its lineup four games ago, which is a positive development for the team. While he hasn’t been the prolific scorer he was in earlier years, he still has the ability to significantly impact the game.
George is currently averaging a career-high 5.8 assists per game, although it’s worth noting that this is based on just four games. Nevertheless, he’s showing that he can contribute in ways beyond scoring.
If he continues to excel in playmaking and increases his scoring output, the 76ers could be in a strong position moving forward.
Knicks-76ers Best Bet
This should be a competitive game to open up the NBA Cup. Although the Sixers will welcome back Joel Embiid, they will be without point guard Tyrese Maxey.
The Knicks were able to eliminate the 76ers in the playoffs last spring, so there is some bad blood between these two teams.
Oddsmakers have favored the Knicks on the road in this one, and I do not agree. I think Embiid’s return gives the 76ers a distinct advantage.
While the game will most likely be close, I’d back the 76ers at home with +125 odds at BetMGM.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
