Eastern Conference clash: Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks preview

Sunday, 10 March 2024 at 20:00

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New York Knicks facing Philadelphia 76ers in an all-time classic today. Both teams have been struggling without their main players for little over a month. Joel Embiid continues recovering from a knee injury and Tyrese Maxey is also ruled out for this game. The Knicks have been playing without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson for a long time now. Jalen Brunson, who also had to deal with minor injuries, will be playing from the start.

Following the 76ers' win over the Dallas Mavericks last Sunday, Maxey entered the NBA's concussion protocol due to late symptoms, which has kept him out of three games, though there is a chance he could return for Sunday's game. Tyrese has averaged 26 points and 6.3 assists this season, could be a significant blow to the 76ers if he can't play, especially considering his standout performance against the Knicks thus far.

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Philadelphia relies on players like Tobias Harris and Kyle Lowry to lead the offense in the absence of Embiid and Maxey. Harris, the team's third-leading scorer, has had a solid season, averaging 17.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Lowry has taken on an important role in ball distribution and frontcourt leadership.

The game will take place at Madison Square Garden at 7:00 pm EST. The Knicks, backed by their solid defense and balanced offensive play, come in as favorites to take the win, with ESPN giving them a 66% chance for triumph. However, the 76ers will look to take advantage of this opportunity to close the gap in the series and demonstrate their ability to compete despite the odds.