76ers vs. Knicks Prediction, NBA Opening Night Odds & Best Bets (10/20)

Fact checked at 7:56 AM ET, Oct 20, 2026

Odds as of Oct 20, 7:08 AM ET

The Knicks hang their first championship banner in 53 years before tip-off, then start the title defense against a Philadelphia team that has hardly played together. New York swept the 76ers out of the second round in May, closing it with a 144-114 win in Game 4, and beat San Antonio in Game 5 of the Finals in June under Mike Brown. Philadelphia's answer was to trade Paul George to Boston for Jaylen Brown and sign LeBron James, who left the Lakers after eight seasons.

So far the new Sixers look like a group still learning each other. James came into camp with chronic arthritis in his left foot, sat out the preseason opener and played twice, 18 minutes against Brooklyn and 25 against Boston. The projected starters (Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James and Joel Embiid) shared the floor in one preseason game, a 114-108 loss to Brooklyn in which Embiid turned it over eight times. Edgecombe sat out the finale, a 125-120 loss to Boston. Jaylen Brown blamed the spacing for the turnovers that night, and James said the team was "still working on our rhythm." Philadelphia finished the preseason 1-3.

New York kept its group together. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns started the preseason opener, and Mike Brown said Monday that every player practiced in full. That includes Hart, who sat out the preseason finale with a sore right ankle. Mitchell Robinson signed with Boston, and Andre Drummond has taken over as the backup center. The Knicks went 30-10 at home last season.

Philadelphia is short on bodies up front. Dominick Barlow, Tacko Fall and Ariel Hukporti are out, and Adem Bona, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons are questionable. New York is a 4.5-point favorite, and I'm betting the Sixers' offense hasn't come together yet. Both picks ride on that. Tip-off is Tuesday at 7:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden.

76ers vs. Knicks Predictions

• Pick #1: New York Knicks -4.5 (-111)
• Pick #2: LeBron James Under 15.5 Points (-111)

PICK #1: New York Knicks -4.5 (-111)

New York brings back the starting five that went 30-10 at Madison Square Garden last season and swept Philadelphia in May. Philadelphia's five has played one preseason game together. It lost that one by six to Brooklyn, with its center committing eight turnovers.

The benches don't look even either. With Barlow, Fall and Hukporti out and Bona and Wade questionable, Jabari Walker may end up playing backup center for Philadelphia. New York gets to bring in Drummond, who grabbed nine rebounds in 20 minutes against Washington and put up 14 points and eight rebounds in just over 15 minutes against Toronto in the preseason.

At -111, the implied chance is 52.6%, and I'd put New York higher than that. My worry is the Knicks' own preseason. They went 1-4 and allowed 124.2 points a game, though the starters played only about 13 to 15 minutes in the opener against Philadelphia and about 20 against Washington. If Philadelphia finds its rhythm early, it has enough stars to keep this within a few points.

PICK #2: LeBron James Under 15.5 Points (-111)

James has looked like a facilitator so far. Against Brooklyn he scored 10 points in 18 minutes while taking one shot from the field, and the rest came on 8-of-8 free throws. Against Boston he had 8 points on 4-of-9 shooting in 25 minutes. He handed out five assists in the first game and seven in the second.

Of the four stars, he has the smallest scoring role. Last season Jaylen Brown averaged 28.7 points for Boston, Maxey 28.3 and Embiid 26.9. James averaged 20.9 for the Lakers, which ties his rookie year as the lowest of his career. He's 41, the arthritis in his left foot is chronic, and Nick Nurse has indicated the team will manage his workload this season.

A -111 price breaks even at 52.6%. What could beat this is minutes. James averaged 33.2 a game last season, and if he plays that long and scores the way he did last year, he clears 15.5.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.