The 2024 NBA Playoffs are now underway, and there are some great games on the schedule throughout the night on Monday. In Game 2 of the series, the Philadelphia 76ers are set to host the New York Knicks, and the home team currently holds a 1-0 series lead.
Philadelphia earned the number seven seed in the Eastern Conference by winning the play-in game, and they finished the regular season at 47-35. The 76ers struggled in the series opener on Saturday as they suffered a 111-104 loss.
The New York Knicks come into the playoffs as the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, and they looked the part in the series opener. New York finished the season with a 50-32 record, and they came into the playoffs with some momentum.
The New York Knicks are 5.5-point betting favorites in Game 2 of the series, and the over/under line is set at 209.5 total points.
Sixers Need to Make Shots
It’s never easy to score points on the New York Knicks as they are a team that puts a ton of pressure on opponents with their defense. Philadelphia shot just 44 percent from the field in the series opener, and even Joel Embiid struggled.
Embiid did finish Game 1 with 29 points, but the Knicks were able to frustrate him for much of the game. Look for the former MVP to bounce back in a big way in this game, and Tyrese Maxey will have another monster game as well.
The Sixers do need to find a way to get some stops in this game as they can’t allow the Knicks to score 111 points in this matchup.
Brunson Leading Knicks Run
The New York Knicks have been riding on the back of Jalen Brunson all season long, and the point guard did a bit of everything in the series opener. Brunson did score just 22 points, but he got a ton of help from the rest of his teammates.
The Knicks were on fire from the three-point line in the series opener, and that’s not usually something that they do well. New York wants to set the tone on defense in this game, but they don’t really have an answer for Embiid.
Home court advantage mattered for the Knicks in the series opener, and this crowd is going to play a role in the game on Monday night as well.
Sixers Even Series
The first game of the series played out as many would have expected as the Knicks were able to take control on their home floor. Philadelphia was able to keep things close in the series opener, but they are going to need to shoot the ball better in this matchup.
The Knicks made 16 three-pointers in the Game 1 win, but that’s not something that they will continue to do moving forward. This should be a game in which Joel Embiid dominates yet again and his play in the paint will allow this team to frustrate the Knicks on Monday night.
Bet the Philadelphia 76ers moneyline at +170 as they come up with a big win on Monday night to even up the series against the New York Knicks.
