After a seven-day All-Star Game break, the NBA regular season resumes Thursday night with a compelling battle between the Knicks and 76ers in South Philly.
The 76ers are positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference at 32-22.
However, they have struggled mightily since Joel Embiid’s suffered a knee injury Jan. 25.
The Sixers are 3-8 in their past 11 games, ranking 19th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating during that span — which can primarily be attributed to Embiid missing 10 of those contests.
Knicks vs. 76ers prediction
(7 p.m. ET, MSG)
The Knicks also have been on quite the roller coaster.
Just three weeks ago, they were the hottest team in basketball, closing January on a 15-2 run while leading the league in net rating during the month.
However, their run of dominance came to a screeching halt when the calendar hit February.
The Knicks have battled through injuries to key players, including their entire starting frontcourt, and have lost four straight games and five of their past six, averaging 106 points in the five losses with their only win coming against the lowly Grizzlies.
These teams have been difficult to feel out recently, but one thing that has remained consistent for both is their slow pace of play.
The Knicks rank 29th in pace on the season, and they’ve seen 13 of their past 17 games stay under the total.
Betting on the NBA?
Similarly, the Sixers have averaged 112 ppg during their latest stretch without Embiid, ranking 19th in pace and offensive rating in those 11 contests.
This total is too high for two offense-challenged teams.
Take the Under.
THE PLAY: Knicks-76ers Under 226 points (BetMGM).