Knicks - 76ers    (won)

In Game 1 of this series, the 76ers were badly beaten by the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They trailed by 23 points at halftime and eventually lost by 39, falling behind 0-1 in the series. However, I do not think Game 2 should be judged only by that result. Philadelphia still have plenty of room to adjust, and the +7.5 spread looks valuable.

The schedule context matters. The 76ers had just finished a seven-game battle against the Celtics on May 3, and only two days later they had to start the second-round series. After such an intense win-or-go-home game, their energy, focus and tactical preparation were clearly not at their best. In Game 1, their offense looked very disjointed, with many possessions turning into isolation plays or attempts to draw fouls through individual ability. The Knicks, on the other hand, were better rested, moved the ball more smoothly and shot the ball with confidence. Almost every player who stepped on the floor contributed.

That said, the Knicks are indeed in excellent form. In the first round against the Hawks, they were once tied 2-2, but then won Game 5 and Game 6 in dominant fashion. Including their 39-point win over the 76ers in Game 1, they have won their last three playoff games by a combined 119 points. They also became the first team in playoff history to win three straight games by 25+ points. Because of this hot streak, the market confidence in New York is extremely high, but after such extreme dominance, the line may actually leave room for a Philadelphia response.

The most important tactical point from Game 1 was Karl-Anthony Towns’ defense on Joel Embiid. Embiid shot only 3-for-11 and scored just 14 points, which is far below his usual level. In the previous series against Boston, Embiid performed much better overall, and he is fully capable of adjusting. After experiencing Game 1, the 76ers should create more early touches for him in better attacking spots and reduce stagnant possessions on the perimeter. The Knicks still have home-court advantage and momentum, but beating an Embiid-led team by a big margin twice in a row is not easy. Expect Philadelphia to show much stronger resistance in Game 2.

Pick: 76ers +7.5