Xam’s Daily Gems:
76ers Money Line -156
The 76ers are coming off a surprising home loss to the Chicago Bulls in their last game. They’re going to come out focused and ready to go tonight. Joel Embiid is still playing like a legitimate MVP candidate, and despite Minnesota’s success to start the year, not many people predicted they’d be this good. It feels like they’re due for a bit of a correction. Despite a poor showing against the Bulls, the 76ers still boast a ton of offensive talent. The Timberwolves are coming off a ton game on the road against the Heat, and they’ve scored 112 or less points in 3 of their last 6 games. The 76ers will need to be dialed in to contain Minnesota, but Minnesota hasn’t played a team like the 76ers either. An angry and focused 76ers team in front of their home crowd has the potential to rattle a young Minnesota team that hasn’t dealt with a ton of adversity this year.
Knicks Money Line -118
The Knicks enter tonight as the 5th seed in the East, while the Nets are down at the 9th spot. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have led the charge for the Knicks this season. Brunson in particular has taken his game to a completely different level. The Nets have been inconsistent this year, and especially so on defense. The Nets have surrendered 112 or more points in each of their last 5 games, and 124 or more in 4 of those games. The Knicks, meanwhile, are an elite defensive team. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is known for defense, and will come up with crafty ways to slow down Mikal Bridges and the Nets offensively. The Nets are 2nd in the league in rebounds, so the Knicks will need to be aggressive on the glass to avoid giving the Nets 2nd chance opportunities. However, the Knicks have better offensive personnel and play better defense.