What to know about the Sixers-Knicks first-round matchup

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It's the time of year every Sixers fan waits for. It's how this 47-win season will be judged. It's the playoffs — and, in this case, it's the 76ers against the Knicks.

Here are five things to know about round one of the best-of-seven series that gets underway Saturday at 6 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks are the two-seed in the East, while the Sixers are seventh after squeaking by the Heat earlier this week in South Philadelphia. In the standings, the Knicks finished only three games better than the 76ers — one of the multiple examples of how the NBA features tons of parity this season, leaving a somewhat unpredictable postseason.

One could argue the Sixers would’ve finished ahead of the Knicks (as well as the Bucks, Cavs, Magic and Pacers) had Joel Embiid not missed half a season due to injury. The Sixers have gone 32-8 when he’s in the lineup.

While the Sixers might’ve had a better record than New York with a healthy Embiid, one has to acknowledge the Knicks trounced the Sixers in the regular season by a 3-1 record. The one game Embiid played against the Knicks was a 36-point New York win at Wells Fargo Center. About a month later, the Knicks beat the Embiid-less Sixers by 14 in South Philadelphia. At Madison Square Garden in March, the Sixers won a low-scoring affair by six and then lost two nights later by 27.

The regular season is not always a good indicator of how the postseason might shake out. However, if this trend continues — it will be a long series for Philadelphia.

The condition of Embiid’s left knee remains something to monitor.

An observer could surmise from watching the Sixers-Heat play-in game that the knee, which he had a procedure on during the season, was negatively affecting his lift. After the game, Embiid said he hoped it’d get better by the day and that they’ll continue to manage it.

If the knee doesn’t end up being an issue in this series, that would be huge for the Sixers and could spell trouble for New York. In his career, Embiid is 16-3 versus the Knicks. In those 19 games, he has averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds.

If Embiid can average a 30-point double-double in this series, one would have to think Philadelphia fans are going to be pretty happy.

Sixers fans will have no problem cheering against the Knicks. But how will 76ers fans who are Villanovans will feel about this series?

While it would be difficult for any Sixers fan to change allegiances, there’s a good chance people who attended Villanova have a soft spot in their heart for Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. They are stars on the Knicks who are championship-winning players from Villanova.

Brunson is having an MVP-caliber season, averaging nearly 29 points a game. DiVincenzo is also averaging double figures and Hart is more than capable of having a big night.

Man, how fun would it be to watch this series with legendary former Villanova coach Jay Wright? He obviously has immense pride in the success of his players but is also a proud member of the Delaware Valley.

Maybe an X-factor in this series can be North Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry, who didn't win a title at Villanova but did win an NBA championship with Sixers head coach Nick Nurse in Toronto. His postseason experience is always valuable.

Full disclosure — not a literal brawl. We would never endorse such activity.
But, this series is bound to be as immensely physical as the play-in game against the Heat.

“Extremely grimy team,” Sixers star Tyrese Maxey said of the Knicks after beating Miami. “They play hard. They’re physical. They’re tough. That’s their identity. So, for us to go in there and try to get W’s and try to win this series, we have to match that. And not just match it, but we have to overcome that and be better than that and be extremely physical as well.”

Aside from X’s and O’s, individual matchups, game planning, and execution, a big part of this best-of-seven might be who wants it more. Who will win the loose balls? Who will get more second chance opportunities? Who will get to the foul line more?

“Gonna be a physical series, for sure,” said Sixers head coach Nick Nurse. “That’s the way they play.”

Nurse thought the Sixers improved their physicality in the second half against the Heat, and that their play-in matchup can prepare them for at least the next four games.

Over the past 35 years, the Eagles have played four playoff games against the New York Giants. The Flyers have had four series against the New York Rangers, one against the Islanders, and five against the New Jersey Devils.

The Phillies played the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series. The Union have had postseason matches against New York City FC three times and the New York Red Bulls twice.

The Sixers and Knicks have not played in the postseason since 1989 when New York swept the Sixers 3-0 in the first-round best-of-five series.

The last time the Sixers went all the way was in 1983 when they took the Knicks 4-0 in the second round.

Overall, the Sixers are 3-1 against the Knicks in the playoff series. If you include the Syracuse Nationals, the team that became the Sixers in 1963, the Sixers/Nationals are 6-3 against the Knicks in the playoff series, with one of those being a one-game playoff in 1956.