The Portland Trail Blazers (14-20) visit the New York Knicks (9-24) at the World’s Most Famous Arena — Madison Square Garden — for a 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff on Wednesday night. We analyze Blazers-Knicks odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Blazers at Knicks: Key injuries
Blazers
- SF Mario Hezonja (back) questionable
- PF Skal Labissiere (knee) out
- C Jusuf Nurkic (leg) out
- SG Rodney Hood (Achilles) out
- PF Zach Collins (shoulder) out
Knicks
- SG Reggie Bullock (back) probable
- SF Kevin Knox II (illness) probable
- SG Wayne Ellington (Achilles) probable
- PG Frank Ntilikina (groin) questionable
- SG Damyean Dotson (back) questionable
- PG Dennis Smith Jr. (oblique) questionable
Blazers at Knicks: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 3:50 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Blazers 112, Knicks 103
Moneyline (ML)
The first thing that came to my mind when handicapping Blazers-Knicks was can the Blazers get up for a New Year’s Day game in New York? New Year’s Eve is the biggest party day of the year and there’s arguably no better place to celebrate then in New York City — possibly giving the Knicks a huge advantage. However, the Blazers have played on the road on New Year’s Day the past three seasons (albeit not in New York City) and they have won each contest outright and against the spread. Damian Lillard is 6-1 in his career against the Knicks in MSG and the Blazers have a much better record against teams above .500 (11-7). Plus the Knicks play below expectations at home: 4-5 ATS record as a home underdog, including an average margin of victory of -10.6.
We are on the Blazers to win, but PASS ON BLAZERS -176 because of laying $176 to win $100 is too pricy.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
BET BLAZERS -4.5 (-106). When the spread was -3.5 (-125), I thought that was a little more vig and would have I’d preferred -4 (-110). I got my wish and I’ll take it because Blazers should win this game easily. This will need to be a bit of a “get right” game for the Blazers who come into this matchup ninth in the Western Conference and on a four-game losing streak. It’ll help that the Blazers, ranked ninth in 3-point percentage, will go against a Knicks defense that ranks 29th in opponent’s 3-point %.
Also, the Knicks really decompress on their days off. They are 1-6 ATS coming off 2-3 days’ rest with a -17.6 margin of victory and -10.6 in ATS margin. They’ve struggled in games where they have any sort of rest advantage over their opponent — Knicks are 3-7 ATS when having a rest advantage.
Over/under (O/U)
It’s Carmelo Anthony’s second game in MSG since his unceremonious exit from the Knicks, and why that helps the under is because the Blazers are going to try and get ‘Melo involved early. ‘Melo’s style isn’t exactly up-tempo — he operates best out of the triple-threat — so expect long possessions early and the game to be low scoring in the first half. Furthermore, the O/U is 2-8 in the last 10 Blazers-Knicks games, the Knicks are 5-11 O/U in home games this season, the O/U is 8-9 when the Blazers are the road team. The teams’ combined O/U record is 31-36.
Based on all those factors, TAKE UNDER 224.5 (+100) in this one.
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