The 2026-27 NBA season continues Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks receive their championship rings and raise their banner before facing a reloaded 76ers team. Check the latest NBA odds as you follow along. New York won its first title in 53 years last season, beating the Spurs in five games, and swept Philadelphia 4-0 in the second round on the way there. Jalen Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP.
The 76ers look very different from the team that was swept. LeBron James, who signed as a free agent this summer, makes his Philadelphia debut in his 24th NBA season. He joins Jaylen Brown, acquired from Boston in a July trade, along with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The Knicks bring back the core of their title team, including Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby. Philadelphia finished 45-37 last season and entered the playoffs as the seventh seed, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Boston in the first round.
76ers vs Knicks Match Details
- Game: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Tip-off: 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Broadcast: NBC and Peacock
- 2025-26 records: Knicks 53-29 (NBA champions) / 76ers 45-37
- Storyline: The Knicks open their title defense on ring night against a 76ers team that added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown after being swept by New York in last season’s second round.
Spread Analysis
The Knicks swept last year’s series by margins of 39, 6, 14, and 30 points, so history favors New York. But this is a very different Philadelphia roster, and opening night is the first time James, Brown, Embiid, and Maxey play together in a real game, which makes the matchup harder to project from last season.
Total Betting Trends
The four playoff games last season produced combined scoring between 202 and 258 points, a wide range. For anyone following the over/under conversation, a new-look 76ers lineup and a ring-night atmosphere make early-season pace difficult to predict from those results.
