The Philadelphia 76ers and Knicks will clash at Madison Square Garden. This matchup marks the start of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks advanced by defeating the Atlanta Hawks in six games, while the 76ers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to overcome the Boston Celtics.

Key facts:

• The 76ers lead the playoff series 6-4 against the Knicks.
• The Knicks finished the regular season with a record of 53-29.
• The 76ers concluded their regular season at 45-37.
• New York is favored by 7.5 points in Game 1.
• The over/under for total points scored is set at 213.5.

Embiid’s comments reflect a heightened rivalry between these teams. He urged fans not to sell tickets to Knicks supporters, emphasizing their importance in creating a home-court advantage. “Knicks fans, they travel,” he noted.

Josh Hart, a key player for New York, acknowledged the persistence of New Yorkers. “Good thing about New Yorkers, man, they’re persistent. They don’t care, bro. They’re going to do it, man,” he said.

As both teams prepare for this critical game, uncertainties loom over player availability. Joel Embiid is probable to play, while Jeremy Sochan is questionable for New York.

This playoff series continues a long history between these two franchises. The last time they met in the playoffs was in 2024 when the Knicks emerged victorious.

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Before this development, the Celtics were heavy favorites to advance, having never lost a first-round series with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown together. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after the Sixers won Game 6 with a score of 106-93.

Key statistics:

• The Celtics have lost two previous Game 7s to the Sixers.
• Tyrese Maxey is averaging 26.3 points and 6.5 assists per game in this series.
• Joel Embiid scored 30 points in Game 6 and has been a dominant force since returning from injury.
• The Celtics hold a home record of 31-13 this season.
• The Sixers are 24-20 on the road this season.

The pressure is mounting on Boston. Jaylen Brown remarked, “They just played harder,” reflecting on their recent struggles. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m tired of losing to this team.” Kelly Oubre summed it up best: “Two best words in sports, Game 7.”

The Celtics enter as favorites with a spread of -7.5, but doubts linger after their recent performances. They must find a way to counteract the elite defense that has held them under 100 points in their last two games.

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