If you're going to face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, catching them on the tail end of a back-to-back-fresh off a championship celebration in Las Vegas and a nail-biter in Indiana-is about as good a setup as you could ask for. That’s exactly the position the Philadelphia 76ers are in tonight.
New York just wrapped up a thrilling 114-113 win over the Pacers, barely 24 hours after clinching the inaugural NBA Cup with a win over San Antonio. The Knicks are flying high, but their schedule hasn’t done them any favors.
Despite the whirlwind, don’t expect a banner ceremony at the Garden this evening. The Knicks are keeping their eyes on the bigger prize-and maybe also trying not to outshine the building’s other legendary banners (looking at you, Billy Joel).
Still, make no mistake: this Knicks team is more than just a Cup contender. At 19-7, they’re sitting second in the Eastern Conference and playing some of their best basketball of the season.
That win over Indiana came without a handful of key contributors. Josh Hart (abdominal strain), Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness), Mitchell Robinson (ankle management), Deuce McBride (ankle), and Landry Shamet (shoulder) all sat out.
McBride and Shamet are expected to miss extended time, but there’s a chance Hart, Towns, and Robinson could return tonight as the Knicks manage the second leg of a back-to-back.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, comes in well-rested-and that might be the biggest advantage of all. The Sixers haven’t played since Sunday’s loss in Atlanta and have only suited up twice since December 7.
Tyrese Maxey is set to return after missing two games, which is a huge boost for Philly’s offense. But now it’s Joel Embiid who’s questionable, battling an illness that’s been making its way through the locker room.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) remain out.
With the Sixers also playing tomorrow night at home against Dallas, it wouldn’t be surprising if Embiid sits this one out. Back-to-backs are always a question mark for him, and given the team’s cautious approach to his health, they may opt to give him another night to recover.
Tonight marks the first of four meetings between these Atlantic Division rivals this season. The Knicks swept the season series last year, a bitter pill for Sixers fans after a grueling playoff battle in the spring of 2024.
That series left a mark-not just on the standings, but on the atmosphere in Philadelphia. Knicks fans took over the Wells Fargo Center in a way that still stings.
Thankfully for Philly, this one’s in Manhattan, where the home crowd will be loud, proud, and probably still buzzing from the Cup win.
But beyond the narratives and the injury reports, this game has the makings of a fun one. Maxey vs.
Jalen Brunson is always a fireworks show-two crafty, fearless guards who can score in bunches and aren’t afraid of the moment. Keep an eye on VJ Edgecombe, too.
The rookie has been earning his stripes defensively, and tonight he gets a crack at slowing down Brunson. That’s no easy task, but it’s the kind of matchup that helps shape young players into future stars.
The Knicks may be riding high off their Cup win, but the Sixers are rested, hungry, and looking to flip the script from last season. No banners will be raised tonight, but there’s plenty on the line in a matchup that’s quickly becoming one of the East’s most entertaining rivalries.