Can the New-Look 76ers Break Their Losing Streak Against the Knicks? Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Prediction | October 6, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
The new NBA season begins with an intriguing preseason matchup in Philadelphia, where the 76ers host the defending champions New York Knicks. Both teams are playing their first preseason game, but they enter it with completely different offseasons. While New York has largely kept its championship core together, Philadelphia has completely reshaped its roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, adding several major names during the summer.
Match Preview
The Knicks are coming off a championship-winning 2025/26 campaign. They finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 53-29 record before beating Atlanta 4-2, Philadelphia 4-0 and Cleveland 4-0 in the playoffs. In the NBA Finals, New York defeated San Antonio 4-1 to claim the title.
The core of that championship team remains in place. Jalen Brunson continues to lead the offense after averaging 26.0 points and 6.8 assists last season, while Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. OG Anunoby was an important defensive presence, contributing 16.7 points and 1.6 steals per game.
However, New York lost several rotation players in the offseason, including Mitchell Robinson, Jeremy Sochan and Ariel Hukporti. The Knicks replaced their frontcourt depth with veteran center Andre Drummond, while their championship core of Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, Bridges and Hart remains intact.
New York also added first-round rookie Labaron Philon Jr., selected 22nd overall after averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds for Alabama.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has undergone a much more dramatic transformation. The 76ers finished seventh in the Eastern Conference last season at 45-37, won their Play-In game against Orlando and then eliminated Boston 4-3 in the first round. Their playoff run ended against New York, however, as the Knicks swept the series 4-0.
Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid remain the foundation of the team, but much of last season's rotation has been replaced. Paul George left for Boston, while Jared McCain was traded to Oklahoma City. Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson also departed as Philadelphia cleared room for a major roster rebuild.
The 76ers responded with two blockbuster additions. LeBron James joined Philadelphia as a free agent, while Jaylen Brown arrived from Boston in the deal involving Paul George. Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade were also added to strengthen the rotation. As a result, Philadelphia enters the new season with a completely different supporting cast and clear championship ambitions.
Key Trends
- New York beat Philadelphia 4-0 in last season's playoffs.
- Knicks have won six straight meetings with the 76ers.
- Philadelphia has won only 2 of the last 10 meetings between the teams.
Prediction
This matchup is difficult to evaluate purely from last season, as Philadelphia has made major changes to its roster. The 76ers now have considerably more star power, while New York enters the season with much greater continuity after winning the championship. That continuity could give the Knicks an early advantage, but this is still the first preseason game for both teams. With rotations and minutes being tested, defensive intensity is unlikely to match a competitive regular-season meeting, creating conditions for a more open game, a high-scoring game looks like the most likely outcome. Recommended Bet: Over 224.5 Total Points
