The Philadelphia 76ers (27-15 SU, 20-22 ATS) are still trying to find their rhythm in the top-heavy Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks (10-31 SU, 18-22-1 ATS) are looking for a high lottery pick at the 2019 NBA Draft. They’ll meet at Madison Square Garden this Sunday, tipping off at 1 PM ET.
Jimmy Butler was supposed to put Philadelphia over the top when he arrived in mid-November from the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Robert Covington and Dario Saric heading the other way. The results have been pretty good; the Sixers are 16-7 SU and 13-10 ATS with Butler in uniform, but they’re still in fourth place in the Eastern standings, with the worst point differential (plus-2.1) among that conference’s title contenders.
At least they’re in the hunt. The Knicks have been dead in the water since Kristaps Porzingis tore his left ACL last February – he’s yet to make his 2018-19 debut, and won’t be re-evaluated until next month. Tim Hardaway Jr. is their lead scorer at 21.8 points per 36 minutes, but his defense has been poor. Noah Vonleh and Mitchell Robinson provide all of New York’s stopping power, and Robinson is listed as day-to-day with ankle and groin injuries.
