NBA Basketball BETTING PREVIEW - New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers

NBA Basketball

2026-05-08 - New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers
United States : NBA Basketball Playoffs Second Round Game 3
Friday 8th May 2026 - Scheduled 7pm EST
12am (British Time)

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Preview

The run of blowout wins may have come to a conclusion in Game 2 of this Second Round Series, but the New York Knicks may take more out of the battling win than some of the previous victories. Being able to show you can dig in and win ugly when needed is never a negative achievement and instead will bolster the Knicks to push through and come out of the other side when games are tight and competitive.

Ultimately it has always been said that a blowout counts the same as a single point win and the New York Knicks have to be travelling to the Philadelphia 76ers feeling really good about being in a 2-0 lead.

It is Playoff time though and rarely do things happen smoothly at this stage of the season.

One of the key figures powering this Playoff run is OG Anunoby, but he suffered an injury late in Game 2 that leaves his participation as questionable when Game 3 is played on Friday. The Knicks may believe they can find a way to get through this Second Round Series without Anunoby and then give him ample time to prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals, but that looks like it will be a game time decision.

Replacing his production is not going to be easy, especially with the match up problem it has posed for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Miles McBride could be the beneficiary of any absence as far as Anunoby is concerned, and it is his Defensive talents that could help in continuing to slow down Tyrese Maxey. Josh Hart is another doubt for the New York Knicks as they look to return home with at least an opportunity to close the Series out back at Madison Square Garden next week.

Injuries have always been making a big impact in the post-season of US Sports and the Philadelphia 76ers will have little sympathy for the New York issues considering they played Game 2 without Joel Embiid. The status of their best player remains questionable for Game 3 with little time between these opening games in the Second Round Series and being without Embiid will put pressure on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.

There was a feeling that the 76ers missed an opportunity to steal home court from the Knicks in Game 2 as they fell away Offensively in the Fourth Quarter of a tight game.

It remains one of the issues that the 76ers may struggle to overcome with too much reliance on the two players when Joel Embiid is on the sidelines- VJ Edgecombe has shown he can step up and should benefit from playing at home, but this is an Arena that could have plenty of noise for the New York Knicks, despite urges from the Philadelphia players to supporters to not sell their tickets to road fans.

The uncertainty around some of the key names does make it a tougher game to call, but the 'under' may be the play here.

The total was not surpassed in Game 2 as both teams showed off some of the Defensive talents and the potential absences of the likes of Anunoby and Embiid will have an impact on the Offensive schemes.

When one team is leading 2-0 in the Second Round of recent Playoffs, the under has been dominating with a 15-4 return from the last nineteen times we have seen this spot come up.

The layers are not finding it easy to separate the teams on the spread, which is a surprise considering how much stronger the New York Knicks have looked. The assumption is that the spread is designed with a feeling that the OG Anunoby will sit out and so the under is the play in Game 3 with a line that is similar to the one that failed to be overcome in Game 2.

Prediction

Look for this Game 3 to finish below this total line set.

The Pick :

Philadelphia 76ers 104-102 New York Knicks

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Under 214.5 Total Points at -110 with Bovada