The Charlotte Hornets (23-20) visit the Big Apple Monday to play the New York Knicks (22-21) in a Martin Luther King Day tilt at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Hornets vs. Knicks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Charlotte had a four-game win and cover streak snapped after losing to the Orlando Magic 116-109 Friday as an 11.5-point home favorite. The Hornets are 26-17 against the spread (ATS) with a 23-19-1 Over/Under (O/U) record.
New York has won and covered five of its past six games, including three straight. The latest victory was a 117-108 win over the Hawks in Atlanta as a 1.5-point road underdog. The Knicks are 21-22 ATS and 18-25 O/U.
The Hornets beat the Knicks 104-96 as 2.5-point home underdogs Nov. 12 in their only meeting this season with the Under cashing on a 225-point total.
Hornets at Knicks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Hornets +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Knicks -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Hornets +2.5 (-115) | Knicks -2.5 (-107)
- Over/Under: 216.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Hornets at Knicks key injuries
Hornets
- SG Kelly Oubre Jr. (health and safety protocols) out
Knicks
- SF Cam Reddish (ankle) out
- PG Derrick Rose (ankle) out
- PG Kemba Walker (knee) questionable
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Hornets at Knicks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Knicks 114, Hornets 109
Money line
BET the KNICKS (-135) for 1.25 units because SG RJ Barrett’s improved play heightens their offensive ceiling, and they have a couple of edges in this matchup. They also have been playing better recently.
Since Jan. 2, New York has a plus-4.3 adjusted net rating (ranked ninth) and a plus-6.7 ATS margin (ranked sixth), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG). During this span, Barrett is averaging 24.6 points per game (PPG) on 47.0% shooting, including 48.7% from behind the arc.
On the other hand, Charlotte has a plus-0.2 adjusted net rating (ranked 16th) and a minus-0.6 ATS margin (ranked 18th), per CTG.
New York has two strength-on-weakness edges in its favor on the offensive glass and behind the arc.
The Knicks are seventh in offensive-rebounding rate and ninth in second-chance PPG. The Hornets are 25th in defensive-rebounding rate and allow the most second-chance PPG.
Furthermore, New York is top 10 in both 3-point attempts per game and 3-point shooting percentage, and is shooting better from deep this month. Charlotte ranks 29th in defensive effective field-goal shooting.
BET the KNICKS (-135) for 1.25 units.
Against the spread
PASS because New York’s money line isn’t much more expensive than Knicks -2.5 (-107).
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 216.5 (-115) for a half-unit unit. The Hornets like to push the tempo – they rank second in pace – and the Knicks will get into a back-and-forth game since they are shooting well from the field.
Also, there’s been too big of an adjustment in the Hornets-Knicks total by the oddsmakers and/or market based on their first meeting.
The first Hornets-Knicks game this season went Under the 225-point total by 25 points. I agree an adjustment should be made, but 7.5 points is too many.
It’s only a “LEAN” to the OVER 216.5 (-115) because I prefer the New York money line more than the total and the Knicks have the slowest pace in the NBA.
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