Knicks and 76ers Renew Rivalry in East Semifinals as Embiid Seeks Redemption

Key facts

• New York Knicks lead Philadelphia 76ers 74-51 at halftime of Game 1 on Monday.
• Jalen Brunson hit a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to close the half.
• Philadelphia became the first No. 7 seed to beat a No. 2 since the first round went to best-of-seven.
• The 76ers completed the NBA's 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit by beating Boston 109-100 on Saturday.
• New York knocked off Atlanta in six games, setting a playoff record with a 47-point halftime lead in Game 6.
• The Knicks are 7.5-point favorites at FanDuel, with an over/under of 213.5.
• Four regular-season meetings averaged 230 combined points; all hit the over.
• Joel Embiid (hip) is probable; Jeremy Sochan (hamstring) is questionable.

A Rematch Steeped in History

The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers renew their Atlantic Division rivalry Monday night at Madison Square Garden, two years after a first-round series decided by a single point over six games. That 2024 matchup ended with the Knicks outscoring the 76ers 650-649, a margin so narrow it still haunts Philadelphia. “I expect nothing less. Actually more,” said Tyrese Maxey, recalling the intensity. “That was a first-round matchup. This is a second-round matchup. So I think both teams are going to come out there and be extremely competitive. It’s going to be a dogfight, it’s going to be a chess match and I’m just ready to get started.” Game 1 is already delivering on that promise: New York leads 74-51 at halftime, with Jalen Brunson sinking a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to cap a dominant half.

How They Got Here: Two Contrasting Paths

Philadelphia arrives after a grueling seven-game series against the top-seeded Boston Celtics, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win 109-100 in Game 7 on Saturday. It was the NBA’s 14th comeback from 3-1 and made the 76ers the first No. 7 seed to eliminate a No. 2 since the first round adopted a best-of-seven format. New York, by contrast, closed out the Atlanta Hawks in six games with a historic 140-89 victory in Game 6 on Thursday. The Knicks set an NBA postseason record by building a 47-point halftime lead, allowing them extra rest while Philadelphia scrambled to recover. The 76ers have only one full day to prepare for Game 1, a scheduling disadvantage that may explain their slow start.

Superstar Matchups Define the Series

The series features marquee duels at guard and center. Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey, who traded spectacular performances in 2024, are again the focal points. In the paint, Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns will battle for control. Philadelphia’s roster was built to challenge teams like the Knicks: the front office acquired Paul George on a large contract to pair with Embiid and the rapidly improving Maxey. But Embiid has struggled with injuries, George has regressed, and the team lost to New York in six games two years ago. Now, fueled by their upset of Boston, the 76ers believe they have a second chance. New York counters with OG Anunoby, Towns and Brunson, all coming off strong showings against Atlanta. The Knicks have reached the East semifinals for four straight years, a testament to their consistency.

Betting Markets Favor New York, but History Suggests a Close Series

Oddsmakers have moved the line from Knicks -4.5 to -7.5 at FanDuel, with an over/under of 213.5. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each game 10,000 times and has returned over $10,000 in profit on top-rated picks, projects 218 total points and recommends betting the over. All four regular-season meetings this year exceeded 221 points, averaging 230 combined. Both teams hit the over in their first-round closeout games, and the last two playoff games between them in 2024 also went over. The model also identifies one side of the spread that hits nearly 60% of the time, though it does not disclose which. Four players — two from each team — are projected to score 20-plus points, and each squad has five players in double figures.

Injury Concerns Loom for Both Sides

Joel Embiid is listed as probable with a hip issue, while New York’s Jeremy Sochan is questionable due to a hamstring injury. Embiid’s availability is critical: the Sixers’ offense runs through him, and his defensive presence is essential against Towns. Sochan, if limited, would thin the Knicks’ bench rotation. The Knicks have depth, but losing a key reserve could shift minutes in a series expected to be physical. Both teams enter with relatively clean health reports compared to earlier in the season, when Embiid missed extended time and the Knicks dealt with multiple injuries.

What Comes Next: A Series Built for Drama

The schedule offers little respite. Game 2 is Wednesday in New York, followed by Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia on Friday and Sunday. If necessary, Games 5 through 7 would be played Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday of the following week. Philadelphia’s rally from 3-1 against Boston demonstrated resilience, but the Knicks have home-court advantage and a deeper playoff pedigree. The 76ers hold a 6-4 edge in all-time playoff meetings, but New York won the most recent encounter. Joel Embiid has pleaded with fans not to sell their tickets, underscoring the intensity of the rivalry. The series is a rematch of a 2024 classic, and early indications suggest it could surpass that standard.

The Stakes: Contenders or Pretenders

For Philadelphia, this series separates contenders from pretenders. The 76ers made bold moves to overtake the East’s elite, but injuries and underperformance have cast doubt. A loss to the Knicks again would raise questions about the core’s ceiling. New York, meanwhile, seeks to finally clear the playoff hump after four consecutive semifinal appearances. The Knicks have not reached the conference finals since 2000, a drought that weighs on the franchise. “No time for the weak hearted to rest,” a Knicks team source said. The sentiment applies to both sides as they prepare for what promises to be a dogfight for supremacy.

The bottom line

• New York leads Philadelphia 74-51 at halftime of Game 1, with Jalen Brunson hitting a buzzer-beating three.
• Philadelphia became the first No. 7 seed to oust a No. 2 since the best-of-seven format began, rallying from 3-1 down against Boston.
• The Knicks set a playoff record with a 47-point halftime lead in their series-clinching win over Atlanta.
• Oddsmakers have moved the line to Knicks -7.5, with the over/under at 213.5; the SportsLine model projects 218 points.
• Joel Embiid (hip) is probable for the 76ers; Jeremy Sochan (hamstring) is questionable for the Knicks.
• The series is a rematch of a 2024 first-round matchup that New York won by a single point over six games.