The Knicks are giving up the seventh-most points to opposing shooting guards. That's one reason why this is a good matchup for 76ers starter Quentin Grimes, who began his career with the Knicks. He's averaging 14.4 points and 31.1 minutes this month. While playing for the Mavs earlier this season, Grimes went off for 21 points against New York. Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry are out for Philly, along with Joel Embiid and Guerschon Yabusele. Look for Grimes to score at least 13 points as the 76ers try to keep up with a potent Knicks attack.

The Knicks have beaten the Sixers three straight times but those spreads were -5.5 and below. This spread is hovering around -10. The Sixers have lost eight in a row and have not covered their last nine games, which is the reason for the high spread. The Knicks lost at the Cavs and at Boston but they always do, it's not a big deal. They also haven't covered four straight. The Knicks get right tonight and the Sixers keep reeling.

Tyrese Maxey only scored 13 points in a blowout loss to the Bulls on Monday. That was an aberration. Normally, he thrives when Joel Embiid (knee) is out. When he played 14 games without Embiid during a stretch from January into February, Maxey scored at least 28 points all 14 times. He averaged 32.4 points per game during that span. That included a game against the Knicks in which he scored 33 points. Look for Maxey to get back on track with a big scoring performance in this game.

Andre Drummond hasn't been playing much lately but is the only healthy true center on the Philly roster tonight with Joel Embiid and Guershon Yabusele both out. Just assume Embiid is out going forward so I don't have to mention that clown again. Drummond pulled down eight boards last time out in just 14 minutes. It's really all he can do. Well, and dunk.

The Knicks have problems with good teams, which is why Spike Lee and friends should rest easier tonight. That's because the Sixers aren't good right now, emitting quit vibes after losing eight straight, maybe reaching its nadir on Monday in a 142-110 loss to the Bulls. Joel Embiid is out once again, but his aura seems to have poisoned the entire operation in Philly even when he's not active, and Paul George's lackluster efforts suggest he's not too happy, either. So, an opportunity for NY to get back on course after losses to the Cavs and Celtics, though we'd feel a little better about this anti-Sixers pick if Karl-Anthony Towns is good to go (he made the Wednesday injury report; sore knee). Play Knicks.

How bad are the Sixers tanking? Playing for draft position and protected picks? Looks pretty yucky. The Knicks love to punch down and the Sixers are 5-10 in their last 15 games, 26th in D rating in that span. Knicks sick of getting beat by real teams and ready to hang 130 on hapless Sixers. Philly failed to cover 9 in a row (by an average of 13.5/G) and covered just 2 of last 11 on road. Knicks covered first 2 games vs Philly. Knicks will ride their starting 5. KAT and Brunson should go off. Is Embiid getting shut back down for good? I don't expect reeling Knicks to show much mercy.