Experts Split on Knicks-76ers and Nobody Can Agree Who Survives Game 7

The second round is here, and the 2026 NBA playoffs just got real. Eight teams left standing after a wild first round that featured two 3-1 comebacks, some shocking upsets, and injuries that could reshape everything. Now we've got Knicks vs. 76ers and Pistons vs. Cavaliers in the East, while the West brings Spurs vs. Timberwolves and Thunder vs. Lakers. Second-round action tips off Monday night, and honestly, the experts are torn on what happens next.

The Knicks-76ers Coin Flip Nobody Saw Coming

This is the marquee matchup everyone's waiting for, and it's splitting the expert room wide open. Four experts are riding with the Knicks. Four are going 76ers. One more is still deciding. Here's the tension: Do you trust Joel Embiid's health to hold up for a full series, or do you bank on the Knicks' durability after a healthy season?

Brad Botkin is betting on the 76ers in 7, banking on Embiid being "healthy enough" for the distance. He thinks Tyrese Maxey is built for this exact series and will take over at Madison Square Garden. James Herbert also likes the 76ers in 6, essentially calling it a coin flip but deciding not to play it safe and imagining Embiid keeps his remarkable postseason run going.

But the Knicks camp is strong. John Gonzalez picks New York in 7, pointing out the Knicks were the better team at both ends all season. Jack Maloney goes Knicks in 6, citing how New York closed out Atlanta and the fact that Embiid was literally hobbling around in Game 7 against Boston on Saturday. Sam Quinn also locks in Knicks in 7, emphasizing New York's edge comes down to durability. It's easier to believe the Knicks survive seven games than Embiid doing so.

The Real Story: Karl-Anthony Towns and a 2019 Beef

Cameron Salerno is eyeing this as the second-round series to watch, particularly the Joel Embiid vs. Karl-Anthony Towns matchup. Those two have history dating back to 2019, when they went at it on social media. There's legitimate bad blood here, and it could get spicy.

Jasmyn Wimbish is calling this the best series of the second round, assuming everyone stays healthy. The real question nobody fully answered: Can the Knicks hide Jalen Brunson, or will Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Paul George hunt him relentlessly? That's the chess match that could decide everything.

Tip-off is Monday night. Get ready for chaos.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.