2026-10-20 · 6:00 PM CT · Regular season
Philadelphia 76ers45-37
New York Knicks53-29ESPN standings data retrieved October 6, 2026. NBA comparisons use the completed 2025–26 regular season. Each upcoming fixture labels preseason or regular-season status.
Philadelphia 76ers2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 115.9 | 14 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 43.6 | 17 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 24.6 | 29 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 13.0 | 7 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 9.1 | 6 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.7 | 4 / 30 |
| FG% | 46.2% | 23 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 34.9% | 23 / 30 |
| FT% | 80.9% | 4 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 53.0% | 26 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.4% | 6 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.275 | 11 / 30 |
New York Knicks2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 116.5 | 10 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 45.6 | 7 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 27.4 | 13 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 12.8 | 5 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 8.1 | 19 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 3.9 | 29 / 30 |
| FG% | 47.8% | 11 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 37.3% | 4 / 30 |
| FT% | 79.2% | 10 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 55.7% | 9 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.5% | 7 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.238 | 25 / 30 |
ESPN team totals and game box scores checked October 6. NBA season averages and ranks use 2025–26; preseason game results are shown separately. Ranks are within the league, with ties sharing a rank; a lower turnover rate is better. Season offensive rebound rate needs opponent defensive-rebound totals, which this feed does not supply. A dash means unavailable. This game’s offensive rebound rate uses the opponent’s actual rebounds.
eFG% gives a made three its extra value. Turnover rate estimates the share of plays lost before a shot. Offensive rebound rate is the share of available offensive rebounds collected. Free-throw pressure is FTA/FGA. The calculations are (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM)/FGA; TOV/(FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV); OREB/(OREB + opponent DREB); and FTA/FGA.
Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks enter with scoring averages of 115.9 and 116.5. Start with the kinds of shots they get, not just how many points they score. A clean shot at the rim or an open three can matter more than another difficult jumper.
The shooting comparison is 53.0% eFG for Philadelphia 76ers and 55.7% for New York Knicks. That measure counts the extra value of a made three. If the defense takes away the first good look, watch whether the offense can create another without rushing.
Ball security is the next pressure point. Philadelphia 76ers turn it over on an estimated 11.4% of plays; New York Knicks are at 11.5%. Fewer wasted trips mean more chances to score and fewer easy chances going the other way.
After the shot, watch the rebound. Then watch which team earns free throws. Extra shots and trips to the line can keep an offense moving when the shooting cools. The season columns give the baseline; the game columns in our final breakdown will show which advantages actually held up.
Spreads and win probabilities are reserved for confirmed games within the next seven days. This game stays on the schedule; its forecast opens inside that window.
Last season 45-37 | 7th in the East | Lost in conference semifinals
2025-26 efficiency 114.3 offense | 114.4 defense | -0.1 net per 100 possessions
Philadelphia finished seventh at 45-37, beat Boston and lost to New York in the second round. The regular-season net rating was minus-0.1, so the previous team was not a clear contender by sustained efficiency. This summer's roster changes are too significant to carry that baseline forward without a substantial adjustment.
Daryl Morey acquired Jaylen Brown, signed LeBron James and added supporting pieces including Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade. They join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. The new team has far more ways to create a shot, and James can help possessions that previously required Maxey or Embiid to solve everything. Simons supplies valuable shooting when the primary scorers attract help.
The remaining problems are availability, role distribution and defense. Embiid played only 96 regular-season games across the last three years, and James turns 42 during the coming season. Brown and Embiid both carried very high playoff usage, so Nick Nurse must establish which possessions belong to whom. Morey assembled star talent, but did not make the backup center situation equally reassuring. Missing stars could turn those apparently small depth questions into nightly requirements.
Projected finish is fourth in the East. We credit the clear talent upgrade while expecting rest, absences and integration to affect the record. Philadelphia's best lineup has a championship-level ceiling. Its place is deliberately more cautious because a regular season measures the lineups available on ordinary nights, not only the one fans hope to see in May.
Last season 53-29 | 3rd in the East | Won NBA Finals
2025-26 efficiency 118.7 offense | 112.3 defense | +6.4 net per 100 possessions
The Knicks finished third at 53-29, then won the championship by beating San Antonio in five games. Their regular-season offensive rating was 118.7, and it improved to 119.9 in the playoffs. That is unusual evidence of a team getting better when opponents had time to prepare, rather than surviving only on regular-season volume.
Leon Rose retained the central group of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. Andre Drummond replaces part of the center depth lost when Mitchell Robinson joined Boston. Mike Brown gets another season with a lineup that found highly effective offensive combinations during the title run. Continuity is a legitimate advantage against rivals introducing several major pieces.
The concern is frontcourt depth and whether last spring's shooting gains repeat. Drummond can rebound, but he does not reproduce every part of Robinson's defensive and offensive contribution. Anunoby's exceptional playoff shooting should not be treated as his new automatic baseline. Management has preserved a champion, yet injuries to a key forward could quickly push less established players into important minutes. A title does not make the rotation longer.
Projected finish is first in the East. The combination of strong measured offense, established roles and playoff execution gives New York the safest overall case. We expect competition from Boston and Cleveland. The repeat bid depends on preserving the defensive standard and enough frontcourt health, rather than expecting every hot stretch from June to last for six more months.
A matching published game video is not available in the verified archive yet.
