The Eastern Conference semifinals are heating up as two classic rivals collide in the Big Apple. The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are set for Game 2 of their 2026 NBA playoff series on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, and the stakes couldn't be higher for the underdog Sixers.
Game 1 was a statement win for the Knicks, who rolled to a dominant 137-98 victory on Monday. Jalen Brunson and company looked sharp from the opening tip, and the home crowd at MSG was electric. For Philadelphia, the challenge just got tougher: star center Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 due to hip and ankle injuries, leaving the Sixers without their MVP candidate against a confident Knicks squad.
The regular-season series between these two teams was a perfect split, with each side protecting its home court en route to 2-0 records. That home-court advantage is now squarely in New York's corner as they look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, and oddsmakers are favoring the Knicks by 10.5 points on the spread, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under for total points is set at 215.5, a slight adjustment from Game 1's high-scoring affair.
For bettors and fans looking for an edge, the SportsLine Projection Model has been on fire this postseason, entering the second round on a remarkable 26-9 run (74%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. The model simulates every game 10,000 times and has generated over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated picks over the past eight-plus seasons.
After running those simulations for Game 2, the model is leaning toward the Over on the 215.5 total. While the Knicks' 137-point explosion in Game 1 was impressive, it's unlikely Philadelphia will be held to just 98 points again—especially with the Sixers looking to bounce back and prove they can compete without Embiid. The total has been bumped up three points from Game 1, suggesting oddsmakers expect a more balanced offensive battle this time around.
Whether you're a die-hard fan, a casual viewer, or just looking for some playoff action, this rivalry game promises intensity, drama, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. Will the Knicks take control of the series, or can the Sixers steal one on the road? Game 2 will tell us a lot about what's to come in this Eastern Conference showdown.