The 76ers carry some serious momentum into the playoffs, having won their last three games against the Celtics and three of four at Boston. The reason I like the Sixers in this series is that they're healthy and they hung tough with the Knicks this season, winning both games in New York. They lost by three in Philadelphia on January 24th and lost on February 11th when Paul George and Joel Embiid did not play. The Knicks also won three straight against the Hawks, but I think a healthy Embiid tilts the scales for the Sixers in this series, and it starts by winning game one. This is the highest spread in all their meetings this season. Sixers plus the points.

There was a definite difference in the 76ers' play once Embiid returned for Game 4. He averaged 28 PPG in the four games vs. Boston. While the Knicks' defense excelled overall this season (7th in rating, 5th in scoring), they were only 21st against opposing centers this season, allowing 22.7 PPG. In two games vs. the Knicks this season, Embiid averaged 32 PPG and 10.5 rebounds per game. Not apples to apples, but he scored 33 PPG vs. the Knicks in the first round in 2024, hitting over 26.5 in five of the six games.

We are going to keep taking Karl-Anthony Towns over 3.5 assists until the line moves, which, by the looks of the juice tonight, might be very soon. In addition to averaging 18.7 PPG and 11.3 rebounds in the 6 games vs. the Hawks, KAT became a playmaker, averaging 6.0 assists over the six games. He's had 4+ assists in five of the six games, with 26 combined in Games 4, 5, and 6. He hit this prop in the first 6 minutes of Game 6’s blowout. It's not just in the Hawks series. He averaged 6.5 assists in the final four games of the regular season. He's had 8.1 chances per game dating back to April 1.

OG Anunoby has had at least eight rebounds and one assist in five of his last six games. This is going to be a more physical series in the paint for both teams. Anunoby could be able to find success with the big men battling for position then cleaning up the boards. Besides Mitchell Robinson, Anunoby is the best defenders they have, and it showed down the stretch against Atlanta. A weakness for the Sixers is defending forwards who can rebound, like Anunoby. Philadelphia was bottom five in the league with keeping those players off the glass, as Jayson Tatum went over his rebounding prop in four of his five games against the Sixers, and coming off the Achilles injury. 

Mitchell Robinson averaged just 14 minutes against the Hawks, but he was still very effective, putting up an average of 11.8 points, assists and rebounds. Robinson figures to have a much more substantial role against Joel Embiid and Philly. Robinson also has the motivational angle, as it was Embiid who committed a flagrant foul against him in the 2024 playoffs, causing Robinson to miss a postseason game. With Embiid's knack for getting Karl-Anthony Towns into foul trouble, I love Robinson to play 20 or more minutes and clear this combo line with ease.

Karl-Anthony Towns had two triple-doubles in the first round against the Hawks. In five of the games, he finished with at least four assists. Dating back to the regular season, he has averaged 6.2 assists over his last 10 games. He’ll need to avoid foul trouble guarding Joel Embiid, but if he does, he could blow past this over.

OG Anunoby averaged 21.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in the first round against the Hawks. He shot 61.1% from the field and 56.7% from behind the arc. He also logged 36 minutes a night and should continue to play a lot as the Knicks take on the 76ers. In three regular season meetings with them, he finished with at least 25 combined points and rebounds two times. I’m playing this over again.

I'm backing Mitchell Robinson to score at least five points in Game 1. Robinson has gone over 4.5 points eight times in his last 10 games. In four games against Philadelphia this season, Robinson averaged 21.7 minutes and went over this total in three of the meetings. Robinson tends to play more minutes versus the 76ers because the Knicks need his size and physicality defending Joel Embiid. If Robinson plays 18-20 minutes on Monday, I like his chances to score at least five points.