NBA League: Philadelphia 76ers vs NY Knicks 08/05/2026

Philadelphia will try to use the energy of the home crowd and the possible return of Embiid to bring the series against the Knicks back to a completely open situation.

Betting on the match winner

In a very impressive way, the Philadelphia 76ers managed to eliminate the Boston Celtics as underdogs and secure a place in the Eastern Conference semifinals. There they were met by their old rivals, the New York Knicks, who successfully defended home court in the first two games of the series.

The opening game was completely dominated by New York, while in Game 2 the Sixers, despite the absence of Joel Embiid, put up a much stronger fight. Philadelphia controlled the rhythm and the score for most of the game and even held a lead at the start of the fourth quarter. However, a complete offensive collapse late in the game cost them a potential road win — they scored only three points in the final seven minutes.

Ahead of Game 3, there are several major question marks for both teams. The most important one is certainly Embiid’s status, as he is still dealing with an injury, while Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are questionable for the Knicks. Still, the expectation is that all key players will try to suit up despite the issues, which could lead to a very balanced and highly physical contest.

Additional tension comes from the atmosphere surrounding the series. In the previous playoff matchup between these two teams, played two years ago, Knicks fans managed to take over the stands in Philadelphia in large numbers, which caused serious criticism of the home crowd at the time. Because of that, the expectation is that this time the atmosphere will be much more intense and that the home team will receive strong support from the fans.

For Philadelphia, this game practically has a “win or go home” feel. Another loss would put them on the brink of elimination, so it is clear that the home side will enter the game with maximum aggression and motivation, trying to shake the opponent psychologically and bring the series back to a completely open battle.