How are these franchises polar opposites? Under Coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs are a model franchise in terms of stability and success. They have reached the playoffs a remarkable 22 seasons in a row, all under Popovich. Might be tough to continue that this year as the Western Conference is incredibly deep. The Knicks, meanwhile, despite having all the money in the world, have made the playoffs just four times since the 2001-02 and have cycled through coaches since then. Their problem is simple: owner James Dolan.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Sports Interaction lists the Knicks with a win total of just 27.5 this season, with the under a -147 favourite. San Antonio is at 46.5, with the under a slight favourite. To make the playoffs again, the Spurs are -278 and +190 to miss.

These teams split last year, each winning easily at home. The Knicks prevailed 130-118 to end New York’s franchise-record 18-game home losing streak. San Antonio prevailed 109-83. That was a common theme for the Spurs last year: Win at home and lose on the road.

New York Knicks

The Knicks traded superstar Kristaps Porzingis during the 2018-19 season to open up enough cap room to lure two star free agents to Madison Square Garden this off-season … but no good players wanted to play for Dolan. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving dealt Dolan the ultimate insult by instead signing with the Brooklyn Nets. So it’s likely to be another long season for New York. It added free agents like Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris, Taj Gibson (might not play Wednesday due to injury), Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton.

The big addition, though, was New York drafting Mississauga’s R.J. Barrett at No. 3 overall out of Duke. He was a first-team All-American last year and set Duke and ACC freshman records for points scored. Barrett is +400 to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

San Antonio Spurs

Popovich is the longest active tenured coach with the same team in all four major U.S. professional sports league and the three-time NBA Coach of the Year holds the third-best winning percentage of all-time in those four major sports (minimum 15 seasons). Pop will coach Team USA in next year’s Olympics, although his short-handed Americans flopped in this summer’s FIBA World Cup tournament. San Antonio is largely the same team that finished 48-34 last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs in seven games to Denver. The Spurs will go as far as the former Raptor DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge take them.

Could be DeRozan’s last season with the team as he has a player option on his contract for 2020-21. One big “addition” is promising young point guard Dejounte Murray, who missed all of last season injured. He just got a big contract extension.

Who Will Win Knicks vs. Spurs?

Injuries

New York

Mitchell Robinson (C)

Ques Tues Illness - 10 / 03 / 20

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 07 / 03 / 20

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 06 / 03 / 20

Kevin Knox II (SF)

Prob Fri Leg - 05 / 03 / 20

Kevin Knox II (SF)

Prob Wed Leg - 03 / 03 / 20

Mitchell Robinson (C)

Prob Fri Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 20

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Wed Illness - 29 / 02 / 20

Taj Gibson (PF)

Prob Sat Back - 27 / 02 / 20

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Tues Concussion - 27 / 02 / 20

Kenny Wooten (SF)

out for season Thumb - 24 / 02 / 20

San Antonio

Patty Mills (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 11 / 08 / 20

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Tues Knee - 09 / 08 / 20

Tyler Zeller (C)

Out Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20

Marco Belinelli (SG)

Prob Fri Foot - 31 / 07 / 20

Patty Mills (PG)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 31 / 07 / 20

Bryn Forbes (SG)

Out indefinitely Quadricep - 30 / 07 / 20

Trey Lyles (PF)

out for season Appendix - 15 / 07 / 20

LaMarcus Aldridge (C)

out for season Shoulder - 08 / 06 / 20

Dejounte Murray (PG)

Out indefinitely Calf - 09 / 03 / 20

Lonnie Walker IV (SG)

Out indefinitely Shin - 07 / 03 / 20

Injuries

New York

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Mitchell Robinson (C)	Ques Tues	Illness - 10 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Robinson is battling an illness, and it has yet to be determined if he will play Tuesday against the Wizards.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 07 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Ntilikina is expected to suit up for Sunday's matchup against the Pistons despite a sprained right ankle.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 06 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Ntilikina left Friday's game with a sprained right ankle, and his return is in question.
Kevin Knox II (SF)	Prob Fri	Leg - 05 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Knox II is expected to be in Friday's lineup versus the Thunder despite a left leg contusion.
Kevin Knox II (SF)	Prob Wed	Leg - 03 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Knoxx II is tending to a left leg contusion, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Wednesday's battle with the Jazz.
Mitchell Robinson (C)	Prob Fri	Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Robinson was absent from the lineup during the previous game with a sore left hamstring, but he will play against the Thunder on Friday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 29 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Bullock has sat out the previous two games with an illness, but it is projected that he will be available against the Jazz on Wednesday.
Taj Gibson (PF)	Prob Sat	Back - 27 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Gibson was absent from the lineup during the previous game with back spasms, but he is expected to be a participant in Saturday's contest versus the Bulls.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Tues	Concussion - 27 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Smith Jr. is sidelined due to a concussion, but it is likely that he will return Tuesday against the Wizards.
Kenny Wooten (SF)	out for season	Thumb - 24 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Wooten is projected to miss the remainder of the season due to surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

San Antonio

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Patty Mills (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 11 / 08 / 20	2-0	0-2	+ -
Mills will not play Tuesday against the Rockets due to a day of rest.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 09 / 08 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
White exited the previous game with a left knee contusion, but he is expected to be available for Tuesdays clash with the Rockets.
Tyler Zeller (C)	Out Thurs	Knee - 07 / 08 / 20	2-2	2-2	+ -
Zeller has missed the previous three games due to a right knee bone contusion, and he will not play Thursday versus the Jazz.
Marco Belinelli (SG)	Prob Fri	Foot - 31 / 07 / 20	5-2	4-3	+ -
Belinelli has been held out of the previous three games with a left foot sprain, but he is expected to line up against the Jazz on Friday.
Patty Mills (PG)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 31 / 07 / 20	5-2	4-3	+ -
Mills missed the previous game while managing an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Sunday's game against the Grizzlies.
Bryn Forbes (SG)	Out indefinitely	Quadricep - 30 / 07 / 20	5-2	4-3	+ -
Forbes is sidelined due to tightness in his right quad, and a timeline for return has yet to be established.
Trey Lyles (PF)	out for season	Appendix - 15 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Lyles is expected to miss the remainder of the season while recuperating from an appendectomy.
LaMarcus Aldridge (C)	out for season	Shoulder - 08 / 06 / 20	-	-	+ -
Aldridge had an arthroscopic procedure and a rotator cuff debridement conducted on his right shoulder. He is expected to sit out the remainder of the season.
Dejounte Murray (PG)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 09 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Murray will miss an extended period due to a right calf strain.
Lonnie Walker IV (SG)	Out indefinitely	Shin - 07 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Walker IV sat out the previous game with a left shin contusion, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.