Knicks vs Lakers Predictions & Odds (Mar. 12)
- The LA Lakers are slight 1.5-point favorites when they host the New York Knicks Sunday
- New York has lost three straight, and are playing the second night of a back-to-back
- Read below for the Knicks vs Lakers odds and predictions
Don’t look now, but here come the Los Angeles Lakers (33-34, 18-15 home), chasing a top-six spot in the NBA Playoff Bracket out West. And they’re surging without LeBron James (foot), who will miss his seventh straight game.
LA seeks their fourth straight win when they host the slumping New York Knicks (39-30, 20-14 away), who lost their third straight Saturday against the Clippers. They will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.
New York has missed Jalen Brunson (foot) in three of their last four games, and he’s questionable against the Lakers.
It all gets underway Sunday (March 12) at 9pm ET from cryptom.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. You can watch the game live on ESPN.
Knicks vs Lakers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | +1.5 (-105) | +105 | OFF |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -1.5 (-115) | -125 | OFF |
The NBA odds have the hometown Lakers as slight 1.5-point favorites, and -125 on the moneyline, giving them an implied win probability of 55.56%.
LA sits in ninth in the West, a 1.5 games back of the 6th-seeded Golden State Warriors. At 18-15 at home, the Lakers are tied with the Clippers for the fewest home wins of any playoff-positioned teams in the conference.
The Knicks’ slide has them now in sixth in the East, looking up at the Brooklyn Nets, but three games clear of the Miami Heat and the play-in fray. At 20-14 away from MSG, New York is tied for the 2nd-most road wins in the NBA.
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Odds as of Mar 11 at DraftKings.
New York Betting Analysis
After reeling off a season-best nine straight wins, New York has failed to find the win column since, dropping a 106-95 decision to the Clippers last time out.
The Knicks shot 35.6% from the field, including a dismal 7-for-31 from downtown, a lowly 22.6% clip. In a tightly contested contest, LA pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring New York 30-21.
https://twitter.com/IQfor3/status/1634697169155358721
Immanuel Quickley, starting in place of Brunson, had 26 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. It was a rough night for all-star Julius Randle, who shot 5-for-24 for 19 points, eight rebounds and three dimes. RJ Barrett was the only other starter in double figures, potting 11 points.
The Knicks rank in the 20s in both field goal and three-point shooting percentage, but they’re 13th in scoring because they work the glass well. New York ranks second in offensive rebounding (12.8 per game), one of the reasons they rank second in second-chance points (16.7).
They have a top-10 scoring defense, allowing 112.4 points per game, holding opponents to 45.6% shooting (3rd), and 34.6% from distance (4th).
Los Angeles Betting Analysis
No matter how you cut it, the new-look Lakers are now a legit wildcard contender in the 2023 NBA Championship odds.
Minus LBJ and Anthony Davis scoring just eight points, LA beat up the Toronto Raptors 122-112, giving them their seventh win in 10 games.
D’Angelo Russell, back from an ankle injury that cost him five games, drilled five triples en route to 28 points and nine assists.
D'Angelo Russell had 28 PTS (5/8 3PT) & 9 AST in his return!
The Lakers have won 3 in a row and 7 of their last 9pic.twitter.com/K5lCfAYLiT
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 11, 2023
Dennis Schroeder came off the bench to score 23 points, with seven assists and four steals. Austin Reaves went for 18 points and five dimes, as LA’s reserves dominated Toronto’s bench, outscoring them 61-12.
Since the trade deadline, LA’s defense has been the league’s best. allowing 107.6 points per 100 possessions. To put that into context, Cleveland’s top-ranked defense surrenders 109.4 points per 100 possessions.
LA is also the league’s top 4th-quarter scoring team, putting up 30.3 points — the only team to crack the 30-point plateau.
Knicks vs Lakers Betting Prediction
This will be New York’s 11th time playing on consecutive nights, and they’ve held their own, going 5-3-2 against the spread. The Lakers are one of the better teams in the NBA taking advantage of more rest, going 10-7 ATS, tied for the 5th-best success rate.
New York is the best road bet in the league, running a 22-12 ATS mark in 34 games, while LA is 18-15 ATS at crypto.com this season.
The winner of this one will likely dominate the paint: the Knicks allow the fewest paint points in the league (45.5), while LA ranks fourth in paint scoring (55.1).
AD’s off night should be shaken off quickly, as he’ll need to win his matchup with fellow Kentucky Wildcat Randle.
Whether Brunson plays or not, the Lakers are cooking right now.
Pick:
- Lakers -1.5 (-105); 1.5 units to win 1.42 units
- NBA Betting Record: 34-31-1 ATS, 1-2 ML, 7-0 o/u, 0-3 parlays; -7.92 units
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Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
