The Toronto Raptors (21-32) are in the Big Apple Sunday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off with the New York Knicks (26-27) at Madison Square Garden. Below, we analyze the Raptors-Knicks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Toronto is slipping out of playoff contention—seeded 11th in the Eastern Conference—and has lost six of its past nine games while going 2-7 against the spread.
The last three wins for the Raptors have come against the terrible Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bradley Beal-less Washington Wizards and Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors.
New York broke a two-game losing skid with a thrilling 133-129 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday as a 1.5-point home underdog.
The Knicks are 2-5 straight up in their last seven games but have covered the spread in each of their past four games. They are in eighth place in the East, 4 games ahead of Toronto.
The Raptors waxed the Knicks 100-83 as 8.5-point home favorites on New Year’s Eve in their first meeting this season. Toronto has covered the spread in four of its last five games vs. New York.
Raptors at Knicks: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Raptors +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Knicks -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Raptors +3 (-110) | Knicks -3 (-110)
- Over/Under: 216.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Raptors at Knicks: Key injuries
Raptors
- PF Khem Birch (acquisition) probable
- PG Kyle Lowry (foot) probable
- SG Fred VanVleet (hip) questionable
Knicks
- C Mitchell Robinson (foot) out
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Raptors at Knicks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Knicks 108, Raptors 102
Money line (ML)
PASS because I “LEAN” New York ATS here but the Knicks (-150) are too expensive for an outright victory over a good Raptors team having a terrible season.
You never know which version of Toronto is going to show up and this young New York squad is still figuring out how to win.
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Against the spread (ATS)
“LEAN” to the KNICKS -3 (-110) for .75 units only because we are getting the worst of the number as this game opened with New York laying just 1 point.
The market is barreling into the Knicks to cover and it’s generally not wise to follow a crowd of people in sports betting; however, I agree with the majority of the market and think New York can create enough margin to cover 3 points.
Toronto is 25th in 3-point field-goal attempts allowed per game and New York is third in 3-point shooting percentage since the All-Star break. Conversely, the Raptors are 23rd in 3-point shooting post-All-Star break and the Knicks have the best 3-point defense in the Association.
Over/Under (O/U)
Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 216.5 (-110) for a quarter-unit because that’s the presumptive “sharp” side.
According to Pregame.com, 80% of the money is on the Under while nearly 70% of the bets placed are with the Over. Since, typically, the “sharp” side of the market is the money column and the “average Joe” is represented in the tickets column, let’s follow the money.
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