Knicks Face Philadelphia Challenge: Injury Woes and Back-to-Back Battles Ahead in Potential Rematch

The New York Knicks are facing a challenging situation, playing back-to-back games after a home loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Towns' late illness and Mitchell Robinson's injury management kept them out of the previous game, with their status uncertain for the upcoming match. Shaedon Sharpe, who is just returning to training, is unlikely to play, and Josh Hart remains sidelined. Philadelphia, on the other hand, is coming off a road victory against the Dallas Mavericks, where their backcourt duo, Maxey and Embiid, played over 40 minutes each and combined for 57 points. Embiid is confirmed to be playing, while Oubre and Trent Forrest are still out. In their previous encounter on December 20th, the Knicks lost at home to Philadelphia. That game was also the second of a back-to-back for the Knicks. With key players like Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Hart potentially returning, the team's initial spread for this game is lower than in their previous meeting, suggesting a possible adjustment based on player availability. After winning the NBA Cup, the Knicks have struggled, losing nine straight games, which could benefit Philadelphia. Philadelphia +3.