Knicks, who’ve been great against sub .500 teams, look to get back on track against a struggling Sixers team before a tough stretch in a battle of disappointed fanbases
When the league made, and came out with the regular season schedule, they, and the fans, might’ve had this game circled due to the recent history between these two teams, and the big names involved. The 76ers went out and signed Paul George to add to their already strong nucleus, while their division rival Knicks made a pair of blockbuster moves, trading for Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns. And tonight’s nationally televised game on ESPN would’ve marked the third meeting between these two potential playoff foes who are less than a year removed from a very hard-fought first-round playoff matchup. Instead, this game has a completely different feel, and both fanbases come into it partially stunned and not knowing how to process the season their teams have had so far.
Philadelphia, after signing George, was believed to be on their way to a very strong season. Embiid, Maxey, and George certainly seem like a formidable big three, but with Embiid dealing with ongoing knee issues, George being bothered by a pinky injury himself, and Maxey also missing some games, the Sixers season has been anything but strong. Instead, they’ve fallen to 20-37, and things don’t look like they’re necessarily getting any better any time soon, as it was recently reported that Embiid could undergo a meniscus replacement in the near future to address his aforementioned lingering knee pain.
New York, on the other hand, has had a significantly better season. They come into tonight at 37-20, sit comfortably at third in the east, and are coming off of an All-Star weekend where the team had not one, but two starters. But it still hasn’t been enough. The team has continuously struggled against the best teams in the league, going a combined 0-7 against the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Thunder, and much of the discourse around the team has started to turn sour. While there are still crumbs of positivity to be found here and there, much of the conversations have been around how this season isn’t the year they go all the way, and why they’ve been so bad as of late.
Needless to say, both teams find themselves in a position they didn’t really think they’d be in. Surely, the 76ers thought they’d be in the midst of a playoff-seeding battle come the end of February, and while the Knicks would’ve likely taken a record of 37-20, the players, front offices, and coaches had to have thought that they’d have better showings against the top three teams in the league.
That being said, tonight’s game will still matter, and it will still feel like it does. The 76ers, despite being closer to tanking than making the playoffs, would love nothing more than to continue the Knicks and their week of misery by defeating them in New York. And the Knicks need this win to get back on track, as they have tough games against the Grizzlies, Warriors, Lakers, and Clippers coming up over the next week and a half.
Prediction
Knicks fans have likely lost some confidence and hope over the last few days. They’ve not only seen their team go winless since Friday, but they saw them get completely dominated and decimated. But if there’s one thing the Knicks have done well so far this season, it’s beating up on teams they are supposed to beat. So far, the Knicks are 26-6 against teams under .500, which is better than the Celtics, and not too far behind the Cavaliers for the best record against such teams in the Eastern Conference. With the team likely knowing they need to answer the call and start turning it around, they’ll likely, or at least hopefully, come out with some pride and put Philadelphia away early. I expect Brunson, who is averaging 28PPG against the 76ers this season, to come out aggressive, and I also expect Bridges, who’s been struggling for a couple of weeks now, to be involved early and often as well. Knicks win 110-100.
Game Details
Teams: New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 7 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky