The Knicks aren’t going to be very good this season, and they know that. Any chance they had of being a fringe playoff team went out the window early in February when star big man Kristaps Porzingis tore his ACL. He’s not close to returning and there’s a chance the Knicks don’t even let him all season as they will play it cautious with their franchise player.

Some believe the Knicks could return to contention as early as next season, though, with Porzingis back, another good lottery draft pick to add to a nice group of young players, and if … IF … Warriors superstar Kevin Durant decides to take his talents to Gotham. That is not out of the question if you believe the rumours.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Toronto was 3-1 vs. New York last year and 2-0 at home – the Raptors have won five straight at Scotiabank Arena in the series. Porzingis played in two of the games and averaged 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks in averaging 21.3 points in the four games; he’s the team’s leading scorer this season. Kyle Lowry led the Raptors in averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 assists per game vs. the Knicks. DeMar DeRozan put up just 14.3 ppg.

The home team has covered seven of the past nine in the series overall.

New York Knicks

New York ended a two-game losing streak on Wednesday by winning at Atlanta, another rebuilding team, 112-107. After missing Monday’s game with some back soreness, Hardaway Jr. had a game-high 34 points vs. the Hawks. Enes Kanter had 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench – he has been one of the most effective reserves in the NBA.

Rookie Kevin Knox, who was so good in Summer League, missed all six shots and was scoreless in nine minutes. The No. 9 overall pick has found things quite a bit tougher when the games count. The Knicks allow more points (109.9) than they score (107.3), which, yep, usually leads to a losing record. Guard Emmanuel Mudiay is questionable for Saturday with an ankle injury.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors could have been caught in a bit of a trap game Wednesday in Sacramento to conclude a four-game trip out west, but Toronto finished it 4-0 with a 114-105 victory. Kawhi Leonard returned after missing two games to an ankle injury and had 25 points and 11 rebounds. Is there any player in the league more improved this season than Pascal Siakam? He added 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

Jonas Valanciunas had an 11-point, 10-rebounds double-double off the bench. C.J. Miles sat out with right hip bursitis. The Raptors have yet to score fewer than 107 points this year. The team’s depth has taken a bit of a hit, though, as swingman Norman Powell will miss 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury.

Injuries

New York

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 04 / 19

Mario Hezonja (SF)

Prob Wed Illness - 09 / 04 / 19

Lance Thomas (SF)

Prob Wed Personal - 08 / 04 / 19

Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)

out for season Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 19

DeAndre Jordan (C)

Doub Wed Rest - 03 / 04 / 19

Isaiah Hicks (PF)

Prob Tues Hip - 02 / 04 / 19

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 01 / 04 / 19

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

out for season Groin - 24 / 03 / 19

Allonzo Trier (SG)

Out Wed Calf - 20 / 03 / 19

Noah Vonleh (PF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 15 / 03 / 19

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19

Jeremy Lin (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19

Serge Ibaka (C)

Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19

Injuries

New York

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 04 / 19	1-0	0-1	+ -
Smith Jr. is dealing with a sore left knee but is projected to play against the Pistons on Wednesday.
Mario Hezonja (SF)	Prob Wed	Illness - 09 / 04 / 19	2-0	0-2	+ -
Hezonja was absent from the lineup during the previous game with an illness but the symptoms will subside in time for Wednesday's matchup with the Pistons.
Lance Thomas (SF)	Prob Wed	Personal - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	0-2	+ -
Thomas missed the last game due to a personal matter but is likely to face the Pistons on Wednesday.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)	out for season	Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 19	2-2	1-2-1	+ -
Mudiay is sidelined with a sore left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
DeAndre Jordan (C)	Doub Wed	Rest - 03 / 04 / 19	3-2	2-2-1	+ -
Jordan is unlikely to play against the Magic on Wednesday as he is expected to receive a day of rest.
Isaiah Hicks (PF)	Prob Tues	Hip - 02 / 04 / 19	3-2	2-2-1	+ -
Hicks has sat out the previous three games with a sore left hip but is likely to draw back into the lineup against the Bulls on Tuesday.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 01 / 04 / 19	3-3	2-3-1	+ -
Smith Jr. has been sidelined soreness in his lower back but is expected to suit up against the Wizards on Sunday.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	out for season	Groin - 24 / 03 / 19	3-6	3-5-1	+ -
Ntilikina will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season due to a sore groin.
Allonzo Trier (SG)	Out Wed	Calf - 20 / 03 / 19	3-8	5-5-1	+ -
Trier sustained a strained left calf and will not return Wednesday against the Pistons.
Noah Vonleh (PF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 15 / 03 / 19	5-9	6-7-1	+ -
Vonleh will miss an undetermined length of time due to a sprained right ankle and a right foot contusion.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Mon	Face - 08 / 06 / 19	2-0	1-2	+ -
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 15 / 05 / 19	7-4	6-6	+ -
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 04 / 05 / 19	9-6	8-8	+ -
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 02 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 01 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Ques Mon	Back - 18 / 04 / 19	13-8	9-13	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 09 / 04 / 19	15-9	10-15	+ -
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19	15-10	10-15-1	+ -
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19	18-10	12-16-1	+ -
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19	19-10	12-17-1	+ -
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Knicks vs. Raptors Prediction