The bright lights of Madison Square Garden will shine on a crucial Eastern Conference Playoff matchup as the New York Knicks take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round playoffs match. The Knicks hold a slight home-court advantage and are favorites on the moneyline, but expect a fiercely contested battle between these two familiar foes. The Knicks will look to exploit their home-court advantage and strong defense, while the 76ers will rely on Embiid's dominance to overcome their recent struggles.
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Basketball: 2024 NBA Playoffs Game 1
Where to Watch: ESPN
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
Date: 21.04.2024 03:00
New York Knicks
The Knicks, led by the scoring prowess of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle and the defensive intensity of RJ Barrett, defied expectations all season. The Knicks built a strong identity with a balanced offense and a suffocating defense, exemplified by being in the top five in rebounds. Their late-season surge helped them finish the regular season with a 50-32 record, clinching the second seed in the East and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The 2024 season was the Knicks' best in the 21st Century. However, they go into the playoffs without Julius Randle, who is out injured. But expect others like Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson to step up.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers, boasting the star power of Joel Embiid, aim for a deeper playoff run this season. Embiid continued his dominance as a scoring and rebounding machine in their victory over the Miami Heat in the Play-in tournament. The 76ers have enjoyed a strong late-season push, winning nine games on the trot. They finished the regular season as the seventh seed in the East and had to endure a nerve-wracking 105-104 victory over the Miami Heat before making it to the playoffs.
Betting odds
The New York Knicks are 1.64 favorites on Betway to win Game 1, with the underdog priced at 2.22. Total over 220.5 is 1.625 on 1XBET, with the under available at 2.25. Bet365 lists the Philadelphia 76ers as a +3 Point Spread for 1.90 odds and Phily to win the first half at 2.20. Read more here.
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