Raptors vs. Knicks Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
It’s the second of a back-to-back for Toronto on Sunday as the Raptors visit the “World’s Most Famous Arena” to face the New York Knicks. The NBA odds will depend on some injuries.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Ask most NBA players which arena they get most fired up to play in, and the answer is often New York’s Madison Square Garden – even though the Knicks themselves haven’t won an NBA title since 1973. Many memorable moments, usually via players from other teams (Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Kobe Bryant), have occurred there since. Toronto will head back to Manhattan on April 24 to wrap up the season series.
New York should return to the playoffs this season for the first time since 2013 as new coach Tom Thibodeau has done a nice job and turned the Knicks into a defensive force. Of course, New York has Toronto native RJ Barrett, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, on the roster. He is having a fine season.
The Knicks visited Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Eve and Toronto got its first win of the season, 100-88. The Knicks have trouble scoring at times, and they were a ghastly 3-for-36 from three-point range compared to 17-for-52 for the Raptors. Fred VanVleet (25) and Kyle Lowry (20) combined for 45 points. Knicks All-Star Julius Randle, having easily his best season, had 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Barrett had 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Raptors are 9-1 in the past 10 meetings and 7-3 against the spread.
Toronto Raptors
Sports betting can be so aggravating. We can usually pinpoint advantages, but there is simply no way the Raptors down so may key players should have won in Cleveland on Saturday, which they did 135-115. Gary Trent Jr., acquired in the Norman Powell trade, had a career-high 44 points on a ridiculous 17-for-19 shooting. The Dinos’ 87 first-half points were a franchise record. Toronto made its first 12 shots and broke the Cavs’ opponent records for points in the first quarter and in any half. Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet were all out – Siakam just for rest, and he should play here. VanVleet will not. Lowry is TBA but probably not. Toronto is 0-4 ATS in its past four in the second of a back-to-back.
New York Knicks
New York hadn’t been playing well but upset a red-hot Memphis team 133-129 in overtime on Friday at Madison Square Garden. RJ Barrett scored 20 points, including a tiebreaking three-pointer with 1:15 left in OT. The Knicks had a 3-1 lead, then never led again in regulation. Former MVP Derrick Rose had 19 points and Julius Randle 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Allowing that many points is very unusual for the slow-it-down Knicks, who lead the NBA in giving up just 104.5 ppg. New York is 9-4-1 ATS in its past 14 at home.
TOR
NY