76ers vs. Knicks Odds & Picks: Spread, Total, Player Prop & More Bets for Christmas Day Matchup

76ers vs. Knicks Odds & Picks: Spread, Total, Player Prop & More Bets for Christmas Day Matchup article feature image

Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Odds

Sunday, Dec. 25
12 p.m. ET
ABC
76ers Odds
SpreadTotalMoneyline
-1.5
-110
215
-110o / -110u
-122
Knicks Odds
SpreadTotalMoneyline
+1.5
-110
215
-110o / -110u
+104
Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NBA odds here.

By Chris Baker

Read the full game preview here.

I think the over holds value here as these defenses do not match up well.

Outside of De'Anthony Melton, the 76ers are completely lacking guard defenders to contain Jalen Brunson’s dribble penetration. The Knicks don’t have the bigs to consistently contain Joel Embiid down low. This 76ers defense is being massively overrated after playing the league’s single easiest schedule of opposing offenses thus far.

This first game finished at 210 despite woeful offensive performances from each team. Combine the expected positive 3-point regression with the return of Embiid and James Harden, and I think this number is too low.

I expect to see a Christmas Day offensive explosion, so take the over and play it up to 219.


76ers vs. Knicks NBA Player Props & Picks

James Harden, Over 3.5 Turnovers (+108)

Best LineCaesars

By Malik Smith

They say Christmas is all about giving and James Harden has been in the giving mood all month.

Since he returned to the Sixers’ lineup in early December, he's been dishing like crazy, averaging 12.0 assists over the past eight games. He's also giving the ball away a ton, too. Harden is averaging 4.8 assists over that same span, the most in the NBA, and has only gone under this number once in those eight games. It's awesome when he gets 21 dimes like he did on Friday, but it's clear that passing will come with some turnovers on the side.

On Christmas Day, he'll likely be guarded on most of his possessions by Knicks 3-and-D wing Quentin Grimes, who does a great job of creating ball pressure at the point of attack. If Harden tries to put Grimes in the pick-and-roll, the Knicks guard also gets over screens well and can force Harden into bad passes.

Overall, Harden has turned the ball over 38 times since he returned and 26 of those have been steals, so I'll also be looking at the Steals + Blocks line for Grimes (Over 1.5, +108). Since being inserted into the Knicks' starting lineup, Grimes has notched at least two stocks in seven of his 16 games.

Regardless, I expect Harden will be in a giving mood, and the Knicks should benefit.


NBA First Basket Prop Odds & Pick: Julius Randle

OddsRandle (+475)
Book Caesars

The first matchup on Christmas day features the Philadelphia 76ers at the New YorkKnicks. Joel Embiid (55% opening-tip win rate) will face off against Mitchell Robinson (71% win rate) for the opening tip. Robinson won two of three tips last season against Embiid.

Embiid and Randle are both hot right now on first baskets, with each player making five first team field goals in their past 10 games.

The 76ers are one of the worst teams in the league defending the power forward position on opening possessions; they have allowed the opposing power forward to score first 33% of the time this season.

I'm only willing to risk 0.5 units on this game as I think the Knicks only have a slight edge on the tip, but I'll take Randle here to start off the slate.

Pick: Randle +475 (down to +375, 0.5 units)

76ers vs. Knicks First Basket Prop Data

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