- 1 New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers: LeBron’s Sixers debut on banner night
- 2 New York Knicks: 70-32 last season with the fourth-best defence in the league
- 3 Philadelphia 76ers: James, Brown, Embiid and Maxey with no games played together
- 4 Free NBA Prediction: New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers: LeBron’s Sixers debut on banner night 
LeBron James plays his first game for Philadelphia at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, 7pm ET, on the night the Knicks raise their first championship banner since 1973.
New York beat San Antonio 4-1 in the Finals in June, with Jalen Brunson named Finals MVP. On the way there they swept Philadelphia 4-0 in the Eastern semi-finals and Cleveland 4-0 in the conference finals, part of a run of ten straight playoff wins.
Philadelphia’s response was to rebuild around stars. James and Jaylen Brown arrived, Dean Wade came with them, and Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are still there. The price of the Brown deal was Paul George, who went to Boston.
The Knicks are 4.5-point favourites at most books at 1.91, having opened at -5.5 in August. The moneyline sits around 1.57 to 1.59 on New York and 2.42 to 2.45 on Philadelphia, with the total between 229.5 and 232.5.
A lot of people will back the Sixers here because of the names. I’d rather back the team that already knows how to play together, and the history of James joining a new team in October supports that.
New York Knicks: 70-32 last season with the fourth-best defence in the league 
Counting playoffs, New York went 70-32 in 2025-26 and won nine of their last ten. They ranked second in offensive efficiency and fourth in defensive efficiency, and allowed 108.4 points per game, the third-fewest in the league.
Mike Brown’s roster barely moved. Robinson left, Hukporti went to Philadelphia, and Clarkson, Shamet, Alvarado and Diawara all signed on again. The core of Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Anunoby and Towns that won the title is the expected starting five.
Josh Hart is listed as doubtful for the opener. If he can’t go, a starter from every game of the title run sits out.
Preseason was poor: one win in their exhibition schedule, 122-120 over Toronto. Philadelphia beat them 120-97 in one of those games. It was an exhibition game, and the champions treated it like one.
That preseason defeat is the only time the Sixers have beaten New York since April. The four playoff games in May were all Knicks wins, starting with a 137-98 rout at the Garden in Game 1.
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Philadelphia 76ers: James, Brown, Embiid and Maxey with no games played together 
Philadelphia finished 50-44 across last season and the playoffs. They beat Boston 4-3 in the first round, then won none of four against New York. They ranked 18th in offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency.
Since then, Oubre has gone to Indiana, Drummond to the Knicks, Grimes to the Lakers and George to Boston, while Lowry retired in July. In come James, Brown and Wade, alongside Embiid and Maxey.
The track record of James teams early in a season isn’t kind to backers. The 2018-19 Lakers covered three of their first eleven games after he signed; the 2014-15 Cavaliers covered four of their first twelve. Both teams had to work out who took the shots, and so does this one.
Four players who are used to having the ball, plus a fifth starter still to be confirmed, is the puzzle for the coaching staff. Their own preseason didn’t settle it: they beat the Knicks 120-97 but lost 114-108 to Brooklyn.
With Embiid and James both on the floor for big minutes, Philadelphia can beat anyone in the East by May.
Probable lineup New York Knicks: Brunson, Bridges, Hart (doubtful), Anunoby, Towns
Probable lineup Philadelphia 76ers: Not announced at time of publication (Maxey, Brown, James and Embiid expected to start)
Free NBA Prediction: New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
Our prediction: New York Knicks -4.5 (1.91)
New York beat Philadelphia four times in a row in May, starting with a 39-point win in Game 1. The Knicks’ rotation is the same one that won the title, and they’re at home on the night the banner goes up.
The Sixers have more stars than they did in May. They also have two new starters, no regular-season minutes together, and a recent history of James-led teams starting slowly against the spread. The 120-97 preseason win came in an exhibition game.
I’d lay the 4.5 at 1.91. The line has already come down a point from its August opening, and I don’t think it should have.
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