Knicks vs 76ers NBA Playoffs Game 3 Picks

Game 3 between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers tips off tonight from the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 7:00 PM ET. Game 3 marks the first of the series in Philadelphia, so we expect the home fans to show up and create a hostile atmosphere from the jump. The Knicks took Game 1 by 39 points, but they needed a fourth-quarter comeback against the Joel Embiid-less Sixers to win Game 2 108-102. 

Tonight’s matchup feels like a must-win for the hosts, so let’s dive into our Knicks vs. 76ers predictions and picks for Game 3.

Knicks vs 76ers Game 3 Predictions

• Pick #1: Philadelphia 76ers ML over New York Knicks (-115)
• Pick #2: Under 213.5 (-110) 
• Pick #3: Paul George Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-135)

PICK #1: 76ers ML over Knicks (-115)

After New York took Game 1 by a wide margin, basketball fans may have thought the Knicks would run away with this series and the Eastern Conference. However, the Sixers clearly showed some fight in Game 2, losing by six points but leading for a vast majority of the contest. After closing as 10.5-point underdogs following the news that star center Joel Embiid wouldn’t play due to a hip and ankle injury, Philly just came up short from an outright perspective. The biggest reason why the Sixers stayed competitive was their defensive improvement.

New York shot 51% from the field, which is still a respectable clip, but their three-point shooting dipped to 27%. The biggest reason the Knicks were able to squeeze out the victory was due to the Sixers turnovers (18) and lack of physicality in the paint, as the Knicks outscored the Sixers by 26 in the paint. If Embiid plays tonight, that advantage will shrink. Plus, the Knicks now have major injury concerns of their own. OG Anunoby suffered a hamstring strain in the final minutes of Game 2 and will not play in Game 3. Without OG, New York’s defense will take a hit, and the Sixers can take advantage.

The Sixers have their backs against the wall and should get their star player back, all while the opposing team’s best defender is on the sidelines. All signs point to a Philly win.

PICK #2: Under 213.5 (-110)

The total for this game is trickier than the side in our opinion, but we expect a relatively low-scoring affair. Game 1 was a blowout, as the Knicks put up 137 points to the Sixers’ 98, while the two squads combined for just 210 points in Game 2. So, we’ve had an over and an under through two games, but this game should feel extremely different. Without Anunoby in the lineup, Miles McBride will likely get the start, and although he’s a different prototype than OG, he is still an elite defender. The biggest issue for the Knicks will be their size, but Mitchell Robinson should be back after missing Game 2 due to an illness.

The Sixers relied on their defense in their first-round series against the Celtics, electing to play most of those games in the halfcourt. However, we saw how they can get out in transition in Game 2, especially if Embiid isn’t on the court. If the big man isn’t 100%, he won’t play heavy minutes, which should lead to a faster game with more possessions. Philly has been an under darling this postseason (7-3), but we expect some regression tonight and will take the over.

PICK #3: Paul George Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-135)

Paul George was a three-point sniper in Game 2, and Philly will need him again tonight. Through nine playoff contests, George has drained 31 three-pointers, shooting an exceptional 52.5%. George has surpassed Friday's prop of 2.5 threes in seven straight games for Philly, averaging 4.0 made triples on 7.4 attempts per game during that stretch. 

In the series opener against New York, the veteran wing produced 17 points on a four-of-six showing from three-point range. He followed that up by connecting on five more triples in Game 2. Dating back to a November 2024 regular-season meeting with New York, he has cleared the three threes threshold in six of his last eight head-to-head matchups against the Knicks, including three of the four most recent encounters. George should get more looks than usual with Anunoby sidelined, so we love his over 2.5 made threes prop tonight.