The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t sweating a 0-2 hole against the New York Knicks as their Round 2 series swings to Philly on Friday night.
The Sixers rallied in Round 1, and my Knicks vs. 76ers props believe they could face a very different New York roster, considering the injury report for the Knicks.
I sort through the individual odds for Game 3, giving my best NBA picks and prop predictions for May 8, featuring V.J. Edgecombe.
Best Knicks vs 76ers props for Game 3
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 V.J. Edgecombe |
Over 13.5 points | -110 |
| Paul George |
Over 2.5 threes | -112 |
 Jalen Brunson |
Over 6.5 assists | -105 |
Game 3 Prop #1: V.J. Edgecombe Over 13.5 points
Philadelphia 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe’s usage didn’t shift too far between Game 1 and Game 2. The Sixers’ stylistic approach in the last outing, however, was more Edgecombe’s speed and he finished with 17 points.
Philadelphia played with pace and tried to avoid getting stuck in halfcourt sets against the New York Knicks. The 76ers will try to do that again in Game 3 but against a banged-up New York defense. As of this writing Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are listed as questionable.
Hart has been Edgecombe’s primary defender in the two games with New York, but those injuries may force a shakeup in the Knicks’ rotation, pulling smaller players off the bench to guard the 6-foot-4 shooting guard.
Edgecombe’s scoring prop was at 15.5 O/U in Game 2 with Joel Embiid sidelined but with the big man trending toward playing in Game 3, his total is down to as low as 12.5 at some books.
Projections are very positive for Edgecombe, even with Embiid in, with only one model coming up short of 14 points. His ceiling sits at 15.5 and my number is at 14.3 points in Game 3.
Game 3 Prop #2: Paul George Over 2.5 threes
Paul George has been the Sixers' most consistent score in the postseason, anchoring in his action from 3-point land.
The veteran small forward is shooting 52.5% from distance in the playoffs, including a collective 9 for 19 from deep in this series. With Embiid out in Game 2, he launched up 13 3-pointers (hitting five) after starting the first quarter on a tear from outside.
With Embiid in tonight, the Knicks defense will get compressed, creating more room on the outside for PG. With him out, George gets increased touches and more FGAs. He’s knocked down three or more triples in seven straight outings, going back to Game 3 with Boston.
Forecasts for George sit between 2.0 and 3.0 makes from downtown, with most models leaning toward three 3-pointers on Friday night.
Game 3 Prop #3: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists
If you read my breakdown of Game 3, you’ll see I’m fading Jalen Brunson when it comes to his scoring prop. This bet on the Over for his assists goes hand-in-hand.
The 76ers did a great job defending Brunson in Game 2, using longer defenders like Kelly Oubre and Edgecombe to get a hand in his face. Brunson was able to get inside for easier looks and drew fouls, scoring from the free-throw line.
But with Embiid back patrolling the paint and those longer arms on the perimeter, he’s going to have to create for his teammates. What’s more, injuries to Hart and Anunoby force New York to dig into the reserves, with a lack of scoring threats off the pine. That offers Philadelphia more opportunities to double Bruson with less risk of getting burned.
Brunson’s scoring has put his playmaking on the backburn in those first two games, finishing with three and six dimes. He wrapped Round 1 with an average of 6.2 assists but did dish out seven or more helpers in four of those six games.
Tonight’s player models point toward seven assists, with a ceiling of 7.5. My projection comes out to 7.2 dimes from Brunson on Friday.
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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