Best Betting Odds for Knicks vs 76ers NBA Christmas Day

Pro basketball on Christmas Day remains a staple part of celebrations for people all over the world. The NBA Christmas Day slate of games for 2022 features five compelling contests pitting superstars and championship hopefuls. The league’s festivities tip off in Madison Square Garden, but the Knicks enter their matchup with the 76ers as the underdog in the betting odds. 

For the NBA, their five games provide a showcase of some of the league’s top talents. While the NFL will also play games on Christmas, the holiday has typically been pro basketball’s best platform. Bettors and fans alike zero in on these star-studded matchups, looking to enjoy compelling contests on Christmas. 

Here’s a look at the best betting odds for Knicks versus 76ers this year’s on Christmas Day. 

The opening line for this ballgame between the Knicks and 76ers set Philadelphia as 3.5-point favorites almost across the board. But over the last week, much of the action has come in on the Knicks, pushing the spread back toward New York. The Knicks reeled off an 8-game winning streak recently, to narrow the betting odds with the 76ers.

The point total for this game opened at 219.5 and has ticked down slightly to 218.5. The Sixers have seen the Over and Under split their 30 games thus far (15-15), while the Knicks have seen the Under hit more often that not (14-17-1). 

The New York Knicks (18-14) regularly host an early contest on the NBA Christmas Day slate, and 2022 is no exception. While the Knicks have spent most of the last several seasons in rebuild-mode, this year has New York positioned among the East’s top six teams.

Jalen Brunson has gelled well with Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett, with each of those players averaging at least 19.7 points-per-game. The Knicks rattled off an eight-game winning streak recently, which keeps them in the upper half of the Eastern Conference standings. It certainly helps that New York stands among the top-10 in both offensive and defensive rating so far this season. 

The Philadelphia 76ers (18-12) opened the season with some of the shortest NBA Eastern Conference odds, but it’s been an uneven start for the Sixers. Joel Embiid has taken his game to the next level this season, putting up MVP numbers with ease. James Harden is rounding into form, but Philadelphia remains without sparkplug guard Tyrese Maxey, who’s out with a broken foot. That said, the Sixers enter their Friday night game riding a six-game winning streak. 

The Sixers have been impressive at home this season (13-5), but less so on the road (5-7). Harden has put up 20.7 points, 10.7 assists averages since his return, but Embiid, the league’s leading scorer, who’s averaging 35.0 points-per-game and 10.4 rebounds-per-game this month, deserves most of the credit for Philly’s 6–2 mark in December.

There are three notable rotation players on the injury report: Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (ankle), who is day-to-day, Knicks forward Obi Toppin (knee) and 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (foot), who are both out. Philadelphia hosts the Clippers on Friday before heading up to New York, which gets the Bulls at home that same night.

Several betting trends affect the odds ahead of this matchup between the Knicks and 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day. Philadelphia has won two of the last three matchups in this series and seven of the last 10. The Knicks enter this one 6-8-2 against the spread at home this season. The Sixers sport a 5-7 ATS mark on the road so far. 

The Knicks have a 1–3–1 record against the spread as a home underdog, with losses versus against the Celtics, Grizzlies and Mavericks. That said, New York’s 4-1 against the spread in their last five at home, and 8-1 against the spread in their last nine games overall. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven road games, but 5-1 in their last six games overall. 

The Under has hit in six of the last eight games in this series. The Under has hit in five of the last the six meetings between these teams in New York. The Under is 5-2 in the Knicks’ last seven games at home.