NBA Cup Preview: Knicks Visit 76ers in East Group B Opener on Friday Night
The NBA Cup tips off on Friday night, October 30, and the headline game is a rematch with a revenge angle. The New York Knicks visit the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with the game airing on Amazon Prime Video. It is the East Group B opener for both teams, and it is a second chance for New York after Philadelphia spoiled the Knicks championship banner night.
How we got here
Philadelphia won the first meeting 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on opening night, October 20. Since then the teams have gone in different directions. The 76ers enter Friday at 4-1, while the Knicks enter at 2-3 after starting the season with three straight losses. New York has since won back to back games, most recently a 133-127 victory at Chicago on Wednesday night in which Jalen Brunson scored 38 points, his highest scoring game of the season so far.
That recent form matters. The Knicks looked lost in the opener, shooting poorly and struggling to close. Brunson has since found his rhythm, and New York now arrives in Philadelphia playing its best basketball of the young season. The 76ers, meanwhile, have already shown they can win in this building matchup and on the road, and they will want to bank an early group play win at home.
Injury report to watch before tip
Check lineups before you bet, because the injury report is thin on stars but heavy on depth. The Knicks have ruled out Jose Alvarado with a left ankle sprain. Philadelphia is without Ariel Hukporti (Achilles), Dominick Barlow (back), Tacko Fall (quadriceps) and Jabari Walker (knee), and Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable with knee soreness. A late Brown decision could move the number, so do not bet this game early and walk away. Wait for confirmed lineups.
What It Means for Bettors
This is a classic revenge spot, and revenge spots cut both ways. The Knicks have the motivation after the banner night loss, and they have the recent form with two straight wins. Philadelphia has the better record, home court, and the head to head win already in hand. Lines for this game moved during the week, which is another reason to shop around rather than taking the first number you see. Group play also adds a wrinkle: point differential can matter for advancing to the knockout rounds, so do not be surprised if a team keeps pushing late in a game that is already decided. Compare the latest NBA Cup lines at BetUS, Bovada and BetOnline, and keep an eye on the late nightcap too, with the Lakers visiting the Warriors at 10 p.m. ET as part of Friday ten game NBA Cup slate.
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