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Knicks vs Raptors Picks and Odds

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball

Updated Dec 9, 2021 · 9:53 PM PST

Julius Randle during a break in the action
Dec 8, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
  • The Raptors are a 1-point home favorite over the Knicks on Friday (Dec. 10th) at Scotiabank Arena, in Toronto, ON
  • Toronto is 3-10 against the spread at home this season
  • Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

Two teams that have disappointed through the first two months of the NBA season square off Friday (Dec. 10th) as the Toronto Raptors host the New York Knicks. Toronto is off to an 11-14 start so far, while New York has been slightly better (12-13), but has dropped four of five. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET at Scotiabank arena.

Knicks vs Raptors Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
New York Knicks +100 +1 (-110) OFF
Toronto Raptors -118 -1 (-110) OFF

Odds as of Dec. 9th at DraftKings.

The Raptors opened up as a short 1-point favorite, despite their home struggles. Toronto has won just four of 13 games in its own arena, and is fresh off a home defeat versus Oklahoma City.

Toronto Raptors Betting Analysis

The Raps fell 110-109 to the Thunder earlier this week, after a last second put-back by Justin Champagnie was ruled to have occurred after the final buzzer.

Toronto appeared to have the game in control early on, but blew a 13-point lead, are were outscored 25-3 during the final 8 minutes of the third quarter.

Gary Trent Jr. led the offense with 24 points, while Pascal Siakam added 23, and Fred VanVleet chipped in 19. The Raptors matched a season-high with 15 triples, but were far from efficient from the field. They shot just 45.2%, and 36.6% from three. They finished plus-6 in both rebounds, and fast break points, but allowed OKC to turn 13 turnovers into 19 points.

Toronto forced 14 turnovers of their own, but allowed the Thunder to hit 42.5% of their threes. Defense has been a staple of Nick Nurse teams in the past, but despite allowing the ninth fewest points per game, the Raps rank 20th in defensive rating, and are a bottom-7 team at defending the three-point line.

Offensively, the Raps rank 24th in both points per game and field goal percentage, and 18th in three-point efficiency.

On the injury front, OG Anunoby sat out with a hip issue, while Khem Birch missed his 10th straight game with a knee injury, and Precious Achiuwa couldn’t go due to shoulder tendinitis. Both Anunoby and Birch are out versus the Knicks, while Achiuwa is questionable.

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New York Knicks Betting Analysis

The Knicks are fresh off a loss of their own, although of the much less competitive variety. New York was blasted 122-102 by Indiana on Wednesday, on the second night of a back-to-back.

RJ Barrett led the way for the Knicks with 19, while Julius Randle chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. New York shot just 41.9% from the field, and 30% from three, while getting chewed up in most other categories.

The Knicks were minus-6 on the glass, minus-10 in the assist department, and were outscored 60-44 in the paint. They allowed the Pacers to shoot 53.5% from the field, while also coughing up 26 fast break points.

New York was one of the better defensive teams last season, but that hasn’t been the case so far this season. They’re 24th in defensive rating, 17th in scoring defense, and 18th at defending the three-point line.

Offensively, they rank slightly higher than Toronto in most categories, with the exception of long range shooting. Only six teams rank better than the Knicks from beyond the arc, and they should be able to exploit the Raps’ weak three-point defense on Friday.

Knicks vs Raptors Pick

An example of New York’s three-point efficiency came two games ago in San Antonio. The Knicks buried 18 triples on 38 attempts (47.4%), en route to a 12-point victory.

Despite New York’s disappointing start to 2021-22, they have been excellent against the spread within the Atlantic Division. The Knicks are 4-1 ATS versus divisional opponents, and 4-2 overall against the spread as a road underdog.

As for Toronto, their home struggles have coincided with a miserable ATS mark at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto is 3-10 against the spread at home, including 2-7 in their last nine.

Pick: New York Knicks +1 (-110)

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