76ers' second-ranked defense meets a Knicks offense shooting 26th

The Philadelphia 76ers (4-1) host the New York Knicks (2-3) Friday, October 30, at 7:30 PM ET, as the NBA's second-best defense meets an offense that ranks 26th in effective shooting.

Opponents shoot 48.5 in effective field goal percentage against the 76ers, second best in the league, while the Knicks make 49.7. New York's offensive rating of 107.6 is 20th, so points come hard against a defense rated 101.3.

The glass gives the Knicks a way around that. They recover 30.5% of their own misses, seventh in the league, while Philadelphia collects 70.6% of opponents' misses, 25th.

At the other end, the 76ers get 18.9% of their misses, the lowest mark in the league, against a Knicks team that rebounds 77.4% of opponents' misses, second best.

Jalen Brunson averages 25.8 points on 40.2% shooting, and Karl-Anthony Towns grabs 13.8 rebounds, 4.4 of them offensive. For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey scores 28.4 a game, Joel Embiid has 10 rebounds in four appearances and LeBron James averages 6.8 assists.

Jaylen Brown, who plays 36.1 minutes a game, is questionable for the 76ers. Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall are out, along with two other 76ers. Jose Alvarado, who plays 19.8 minutes a game, is out for the Knicks, with a return expected Wednesday, November 4.

The 76ers won the first meeting 106-100 on Tuesday, October 20. The Knicks arrive with a 133-127 win at Chicago and a 111-97 win over Detroit after three straight losses. Philadelphia lost 106-93 at home to the Pistons in its last game.

Sportsbook prices give the Knicks a 54% chance to win, while Keel's projection, built from the players available, gives the 76ers 58%.