New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers Picks and Predictions for Friday, October 30, 2026

New York and Philadelphia meet again Friday, just 10 days after the 76ers won 106-100 at Madison Square Garden. This time they're playing at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with tipoff at 7:30 pm ET on Prime Video. It's an NBA Cup group-play matchup, with the result also counting toward regular-season records. The Knicks are 2-3, fourth in the Atlantic Division, after beating Chicago 133-127 on Wednesday. Philadelphia leads the division at 4-1 following a 114-109 win at Indiana. Check our free NBA picks for Friday's other games.

New York Knicks Have Won Two Straight

It took New York three losses to get its season moving in the right direction. The Knicks followed defeats against Philadelphia, Boston and Orlando with a 111-97 victory over Detroit on Tuesday. They then went to Chicago and scored 133 points Wednesday, holding off the Bulls for a six-point win. That's quite a change for a team averaging only 104 points through its first four games. New York has also been stronger on the glass, collecting 47.8 rebounds per contest. The Knicks will be looking for a better offensive performance than they managed against Philadelphia earlier this month.

Jalen Brunson is averaging 22.8 points, although his 36.6% shooting has made life harder than usual. Karl-Anthony Towns has been more accurate, making 60.3% of his attempts while contributing 22.5 points and 14 rebounds per game. OG Anunoby has added 16.3 points. The Knicks have struggled with turnovers, averaging 15.5, and their 41.4% shooting needs improvement. Towns could be particularly important against Joel Embiid, especially considering New York's advantage in rebounding numbers.

Injuries: Jose Alvarado is questionable.

Philadelphia 76ers Have Plenty of Scoring Options

Philadelphia's only loss came against Detroit on Sunday, when the 76ers managed just 93 points in a 106-93 defeat. It was a disappointing result after scoring 127 against Milwaukee the night before. The response came Wednesday in Indiana, where Philadelphia won 114-109. Earlier victories over Cleveland and New York have helped the 76ers reach 4-1 and take first place in the Atlantic Division. Friday brings another meeting with the Knicks, who lost 106-100 when these teams played at Madison Square Garden on October 20.

Tyrese Maxey is getting plenty of opportunities with the ball, averaging 22 field goal attempts and scoring 28.8 points per game. Joel Embiid has played three games, producing 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. Jaylen Brown is adding 20.8 points, including two 3-pointers per outing, while LeBron James has recorded 16.3 points and 5.7 assists. Philadelphia has taken good care of the ball so far, averaging 11.8 turnovers. The 76ers are also getting 10.5 steals per game, which could be important against New York.

Injuries: Tacko Fall and Dominick Barlow are out. Jabari Walker is questionable.

Key To The Game

New York has a clear advantage in rebounding, but Philadelphia has been taking better care of the basketball. The Knicks average 47.8 boards, compared with 41.5 for the 76ers. However, New York commits nearly four more turnovers per game. That could give Philadelphia additional scoring chances, particularly with Maxey attacking the basket. Towns will need another strong performance inside, while Brunson must find better shooting opportunities. The first meeting finished with only 206 combined points, so neither offense had an especially easy night.

New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers Game Pick

• Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers have already beaten the Knicks in New York, and their early results have been more convincing overall. Philadelphia has four wins in five games, while the Knicks needed their last two outings to recover from a 0-3 start. Maxey has been scoring regularly, and Embiid gives Philadelphia someone who can compete with Towns around the basket. New York has improved offensively, but Brunson's shooting remains a concern. I expect another competitive meeting, with Philadelphia doing enough to win at home.

New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers Over/Under Pick

• Under

The first meeting produced just 206 points, with Philadelphia winning 106-100. New York has scored considerably more in its last two games, but those results came against Detroit and Chicago. The Knicks are still shooting only 41.4%, while Philadelphia sits at 42%. Both teams have been stronger defensively than their recent scoring totals might suggest. The 76ers allow 107.4 points per game, and New York gives up 109.6. I expect a tighter contest than Wednesday's Knicks game in Chicago. Under is the pick.