Knicks vs. Raptors: NBA Picks, Odds and Prediction

You are likely to see two tired teams on Saturday night and potentially some interesting lineups or minutes restrictions as the New York Knicks make their first visit of the season to Toronto. Both clubs played Friday night, with New York in Boston and the Raptors in Charlotte. Back-to-back games , especially on the weekend, are a part of life in the NBA to fit in 82 from late-October to  mid-April.

New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors

Spread: Raptors -7.5

Total: 210.5

Date:  Saturday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: Air Canada Centre

New York Knicks

The Knicks might have been a championship contending team about four years ago if they had their current roster and young star Kristaps Porzingis was around and playing at his current level back then. He’s the future of this team. You know all about Carmelo Anthony, still one of the NBA’s top scorers but not what he was a few years ago.

In the offseason, the Knicks added two former Chicago Bulls in Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. New York traded for Rose, who in 2010-11 became the NBA’s youngest-ever MVP. The problem is that Rose, a point guard, hasn’t been healthy since then or played at that level when he has been feeling good. It’s a shame that knee injuries might have ruined a potential Hall of Fame career. But it was a low-risk, high-reward deal for the Knicks as they didn’t give up much to get Rose and can walk away this offseason when Rose becomes a free agent. Rose, who missed the preseason because of a civil trial against him, was averaging 16.0 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds entering Friday. Rose isn’t as explosive as he used to be and isn’t a good jump-shooter, but those are pretty good numbers so far and his health hasn’t been an issue. If this were last year, Rose might have sat out the second of a back-to-back.

The Bulls let Noah, who was the Defensive Player of the Year and fourth in the MVP voting in 2013-14, walk away in free agency because both his health and game were breaking down. So far so good on Noah, too, as he has  played every game but is basically a glorified rebounder who plays good defense and passes well.

The Knicks might finish around .500 and sneak into the playoffs this year. Already there has been some controversy surrounding the club as team president Phil Jackson isn’t happy that new coach Jeff Hornacek is using Jackson’s favored triangle offense so infrequently. And this week, the team made assistant coach Kurt Rambis the “defensive coordinator,” a move many believe was forced by Jackson. What’s odd about that is Rambis finished last season as New York’s interim coach and was considered a leading candidate for the full-time job this offseason before Jackson surprised many by going with Hornacek, who  has no ties to the triangle offense.

Toronto Raptors

The better that Raptors rookie center Jakob Poeltl plays, the more Toronto fans should thank the Knicks. Poeltl was the No. 9 pick out of Utah in this year’s draft, and that was the final payment New York owed the Raptors for the trade that that sent Andrea Bargnani, the 2006 No. 1 overall pick (oops!), from Toronto to New York in 2013. Bargnani is now playing in Spain. If it makes Raptors fans feel any better, the 2006 draft was terrible overall, although Toronto could have chosen LaMarcus Aldridge, who went No. 2. Kyle Lowry went No. 24 that year to Memphis.

Poeltl has been averaging about 18 minutes a night and been starting of late with the knee injury to Jonas Valanciunas, who may or may not play Saturday. Poeltl and Pascal Siakam are among the NBA’s rookie leaders in rebounding.

This is the latest into the season that the Raptors have played their first back-to-back since 2006-07. Toronto was 11-6 on the back end of those games last year.  New York is 0-1 in the back end of back-to-backs this season. That was a 118-99 home loss to Houston on Nov. 2.

Toronto won three of four meetings with the Knicks last year, although the one loss was at home almost a year ago to the day of Saturday’s game (November 10). DeMar DeRozan, the NBA’s scoring leader entering the weekend, averaged 26.0 points in the four games. Lowry averaged 21.5 points and 9.3 assists. Valanciunas was at 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. Anthony averaged 23.0 points in three games for the Knicks and Porzingis 12.5 points in two games.

Knicks vs. Raptors Prediction

The second of a back-to-back generally favours the home side in a big way. And as you can see above, the Raptors fared very well in those last year. New York has covered four of the past five meetings in Toronto, but give the points here. Go over the total as it has hit in five of the previous seven meetings overall.