AFter a 92-97 loss on Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers will look for a way to win game 5 in New York and extend this series.
Joel Embiid is averaging 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while fighting through an injured knee and Bell's palsy. Tyrese Maxey is doing his part to help, averaging 29/5/7, but the 76ers are getting little help from the role players on the roster.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are rolling right now. They've won 8 of 10, including their last 5 home games. Jalen Brunson has led the way with 33 PPG, but New York has 6 players averaging double-digits this series.
Game 5 opened with the Knicks favored by 5.5 points, but early action on the 76ers has since moved this line to 4.5. The total opened at 201 and has been bet up to 203 at most sportsbooks.
This game tips at 7:00 PM EDT, and is the first leg of tonight's TNT doubleheader.
The story of this series is quite simple, the 76ers are the better team with Embiid on the floor. Philly is +34 with Embiid in the game, and -38 when he's on the bench.
The easiest way to capitalize on this trend is by betting the 76ers first quarter moneyline. We're getting +120 odds on a wager that should probably be priced at -120.
Philadelphia has won 3 out of 4 first quarters this series. In fact, they are outscoring the Knicks 113-89 through the first 4 games of the series. Give us the 76ers to win the quarter as our best bet of the night.
Hart has hit this mark in four of the Knicks’ eight matchups against Philly this season (inc. playoffs). After a struggle from the field in Game 4, look for Hart’s playmaking, especially as a swingman to a Donte or Brunson triple to come in handy to finish this series at home.
Hart averages 4.4 APG at home during the season at 34.5 MPG. He’s bound to play over 40 minutes on Tuesday night. The added minutes should result in 5+ assists and a cover here.
Tobias Harris has nightmares about New York at night. The forward has played against the Knicks 8 times including the postseason this year with his highest scoring game being 11 points on 5 of 14 shooting.
Tobias has only hit this points + rebounds + assists prop once this series and once in the regular season, so expect the struggles to continue in what should be a low-scoring game once again in MSG.