NBA Preview: New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

The New York Knicks (26-15) and Philadelphia 76ers (15-23) will clash for the second time this season for an exciting NBA betting opportunity at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 PM ET. The Knicks are favored on the road with a -5.5 (-120 MyBookie) point spread.

New York Knicks Betting Preview

The Knicks have gone 2-3 in their previous five games, but need to find some sort of positive balance. They are returning to action after a 124-119 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

They were down 37-26 to start the second quarter, but quickly bounced back with a 37-22 run to keep it close at the half. Jalen Brunson led with 31 points and 11 assists to push the offense. Six players in total had double figures to spread the love on offense, but it was not quite enough to overcome the surging Pistons.

Both teams shot 50 percent from the field, with the Pistons making 44.1 percent of their shots from deep and slightly edging out the Knicks. The Pistons also had 13 turnovers, but the Knicks could not keep their hands on the ball and coughed it up 18 times.

The Knicks have the sixth-best offense in the league and average 117.2 points a game. Their defense is appealing as well at 10th in allowing opponents to average 110.8 points a game.

Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview

The 76ers are looking to break their three-game losing streak, as they are averaging 105.3 points a game and allowing 115.0 points in return. Their last defeat was a 118-102 performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

They came out a little flat to start the game, as Sixers were already down 37-21 to end the first quarter. They had a stronger third quarter of 38-29 to make it more competitive, but ultimately they were already too far behind. Justin Edwards led with 25 points and four assists.

While they had a solid shooting night at 44.0 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from deep, their defense allowed the Thunder to make 55.6 percent of their shots and 33.3 from three. This is tough to overcome, especially when you cannot keep up with good offensive teams.

The Sixers are near the bottom at 27th in averaging about 107.4 points a game. Their defense is ninth in allowing opponents to get roughly 110.6 points a game on them. This spread shows a negative correlation and does not bode well for their chances at winning.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

Check out the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers betting odds, courtesy of MyBookie, showing the Knicks as 5.5-point favorites. Current market predictions suggest the Knicks have a 68.6 percent chance of winning. The Knicks won the first meeting 111-99 and they have a healthier roster in comparison to the Sixers this time around.

Final Pick: New York Knicks -5.5 (-120)