Sixers host Knicks in NBA Cup opener with Season series control on the line

The Sixers open NBA Cup play tonight against the defending champion Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and a win would put them in command of the season series. Tip is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Philadelphia is 4-1. New York is 2-3. The 76ers beat the Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, the night New York raised its championship banner. That started a three-game losing streak for the Knicks, who have since won two straight, most recently 133-127 in Chicago on Wednesday.

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Why This Game Matters for the Sixers

The Sixers already own the first meeting. A second win guarantees no worse than a tied season series, which means a tiebreaker could come down to division standing. The final two meetings come in a two-week stretch in February, so tonight is the last time these teams play for four months.

The Cup adds pressure. The Sixers’ group is New York, Cleveland, Indiana and Miami, and there is little margin for error. New York also swept the 76ers in the playoffs, which gives tonight extra weight.

Sixers Injury Report: Jaylen Brown Questionable

The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game vs. New York:

Jaylen Brown – knee – QUESTIONABLE

Tacko Fall – quad – OUT

Jabari Walker – knee – OUT

Dominick Barlow – back – OUT

Joel Embiid and LeBron James are both not listed ahead of the front end of a back-to-back.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) October 29, 2026

Brown is questionable with knee soreness. LeBron James and Joel Embiid are not listed on the injury report. Jabari Walker, Tacko Fall and Dominick Barlow are out. For New York, Jose Alvarado is a game-time decision.

Brown matters here. He is averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists on good efficiency, and the Knicks have plenty of wings to throw at him and James. Without him, the 76ers lose a scorer who has been productive and efficient.

The Sixers Offense Still Has Work to Do

The defense has carried the 76ers. Philadelphia has a top-five pace and an assist-to-turnover ratio among the league’s best, and its wings are getting into passing lanes and running. The half court is the problem. Only two rotation players shoot above 45 percent, the team is not getting offensive rebounds, and it is not hitting many threes. Possessions too often turn into isolations.

Tyrese Maxey is the exception at 28.4 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting. Embiid comes in after a double-double and a triple-double in his last two games, and he faces Karl-Anthony Towns again tonight.

The slow starts are a bigger concern. The 76ers trailed Cleveland by 29 in the home opener, trailed Detroit by 21 in their only loss, and were down 13 entering the fourth quarter against an Indiana team without Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac. They came back against Indiana. The Sixers cannot count on that against a champion.

What the Knicks Bring to Philadelphia

New York’s start has been rough. Beyond the 0-3 opening, extension talks with Josh Hart and Towns have stalled, and the Knicks tabled them in a statement. Mikal Bridges is averaging 5.0 points on 27 percent shooting. Jalen Brunson has found his groove, but he is carrying a heavy load. The Knicks’ offense has found a better rhythm lately, and they will need it against a physical Philadelphia team.

Sixers vs. Knicks Odds, Prediction and How to Watch

BetMGM has the Sixers favored by 3.5 points with a total of 218.5. The moneyline is Sixers -150 and Knicks +130. USA TODAY’s prediction is Sixers 117, Knicks 108.

How to watch: 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video from Xfinity Mobile Arena. Radio is 97.5 The Fanatic.

Pick: Sixers 113, Knicks 106. New York is 2-3, Bridges is not scoring, and the Sixers have the better defense right now. If Brown plays and the Sixers do not dig another double-digit hole, they cover.