Welcome to my daily column of NBA Playoff best bets! Here at VSiN we have a ton of NBA Playoff content daily, so make sure to keep tabs on Zach Cohen who is doing an excellent job handicapping the league on a daily basis.
NBA Best Bets
Record: 117-115-3 | Units: -5.85
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (-5, 209.5)
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are questionable to play tonight, but neither should miss the second game of this series, especially after losing the first game. Of the two, Maxey is the real questionable with an illness, but will likely tough it out. This is why we’re seeing this number as high as it is. If I’m right and both play, grabbing +6 is the move to make.
The Knicks averaged 1.261 points per possession in the win on Saturday, and much of that was due to their 3-point shooting. For the game they shot 16-of-35, but where they really did damage was on non-corner 3-point attempts on which they shot 61.5%. That is unlikely to occur again tonight. New York also crushed Philadelphia on the glass and grabbed 50.9% of their missed attempts. The 76ers should put more of an emphasis on that tonight and at the very least cut into that figure.
Philadelphia also had some positives. It held the Knicks to 0.765 points per play in the halfcourt while averaging 0.988 themselves. Philly also dominated at the rim, going 20-of-27 with 6 shooting fouls drawn. That should be a strength for it throughout the series.
Overall, this is just a number grab. I am assuming both Embiid and Maxey will play. This number would indicate New York is about two points better on a neutral than Philadelphia. That is not something I necessarily agree with.
Best Bet: 76ers (+6)
NBA Best Bets
76ers (+6)
