The Philadelphia 76ers return to action in New York on Friday night to take on the NBA Cup-winning New York Knicks. The Sixers are coming off a loss to the Hawks on Sunday, 120-117, while the Knicks, in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, squeaked by the Pacers on Thursday night, 114-113, in Indiana.
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (14-11) at New York Knicks (19-7)
When: 7:00 pm EST
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Watch: Prime Video, MSG Network
The Sixers should see the return of Tyrese Maxey tonight, but Joel Embiid, who's played well of late, is questionable with the annual Sixers holiday fly season illness. While still missing Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, the Sixers should be mostly healthy to take on a Knicks team that has been on a roll of late.
With Maxey returning, the Sixers need to continue to utilize the athleticism and talent of VJ Edgecombe, who's had two very good games in Maxey's absence. With VJ and Maxey providing some true scoring punch and movement, the hope is that Quentin Grimes will be able to get out of his shooting slump of late.
Grimes, who will still garner many more minutes than second-year guard Jared McCain, will need to have a very good game on both sides of the ball if the Sixers are to compete against the Knicks. Grimes has been inconsistent from a shooting aspect this month, and except for the Bucks game, he is shooting just 25% from the three-point line. The team needs Grimes to find his touch tonight, while also counting on his defensive ability to slow a Knicks attack that features one of the best free-throw merchants in the history of the game.
After starting slowly, the Knicks have exploded over the past month, going 7-1 in their last eight games and just winning the NBA Cup Tournament. The team was assembled to compete for a title, and with the Eastern Conference as shaky as it's been in a long time, the Knicks are currently second in the conference behind the Detroit Pistons.
It's not hard to see why, as the Knicks have one of the top scoring teams in the league, and while their defense is just middle of the pack, the team can put points on anyone at any time. The team is near the top of the league in scoring and three-point shooting, which has proven to be a problem for everyone they've faced.
Jalen Brunson is having another great season, and the team has followed his lead. Karl Anthony-Towns has provided scoring and rebounding, while Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Miles McBride have all stepped into significant roles.
With the return of Tyrese Maxey, the continued development of VJ Edgecombe, and Paul George having found his game as his health has improved, the Sixers are a much-improved squad, especially compared to last season. The trio is expected to start tonight and could give the Knicks some fits. If the guards can continue their stellar play, along with Quentin Grimes regaining his shooting touch from long range, the Sixers have a chance to take down the Knicks.
The key for the Sixers tonight will be to defend well and avoid a three-point shooting contest with the Knicks. As the Sixers have been up and down for most of the season in long-range shooting, the Knicks have remained one of the top three teams in the league. The wildcard is whether or not Embiid can play, which would at least take away some of what the Knicks' front court can do on both ends.
It's going to take a complete team effort tonight, and that's going to come down to how good a coach Nick Nurse truly is. This will be a huge test for the team as they move forward and look to make a playoff run this season.
Sixers 123 - Knicks 121
