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Lakers vs Knicks Odds and Picks

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 14, 2021 · 9:36 AM PDT

Talen Horton-Tucker
Talen Horton-Tucker and the Lakers are in New York to battle the Knicks Monday. (Photo by PI/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)
  • The Lakers visit the Knicks coming off a monster win over Brooklyn
  • Both teams are top-5 defensive units 
  • Get the latest Lakers vs Knicks odds, betting preview and a pick below

Expect a slugfest in Gotham Monday.

That’s because the Los Angeles Lakers will be visiting the New York Knicks, in a matchup of two of the top defensive teams in basketball. Still without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers crushed the Nets in Brooklyn Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the Knicks put the clamps down on the Raptors Sunday, and are 3-point favorites despite playing the second game of a back-to-back.

Lakers vs Knicks Odds

Team Spread at FanDuel Moneyline Total
Los Angeles Lakers +3 (-110) +122 Ov 205.5 (-110)
New York Knicks -3 (-110) -144 Un 205.5 (-110)

Odds as of April 11. Tip-off is Monday at 7:30pm ET

Biggie in Brooklyn

Even though the Nets didn’t have James Harden available, it was hard to envision Los Angeles not getting smoked by the NBA’s most dominating offense. Instead, it was LA laying the smackdown, cruising to a 126-101 win.

That improves the Lakers to 5-6 since LeBron went down with a high ankle sprain. While they have been a work in progress, you can’t argue with the defensive effort, which has kept them afloat. Since James’ injury, LA is still sixth in points allowed at 104.5 a contest. They’ve also held teams to 32.4% shooting from three-point range, which ranks second in the NBA over that period.

Against Brooklyn,  their offense came to life, particularly with the contributions of two of the newest Lakers, Andre Drummond and Ben McLemore and fill-in starter Talen-Horton Tucker.

Drummond, picked up in the buyout market, had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win. While he isn’t an A option all the time, he has the ability to stabilize the offense with his work down low.

Drummond’s dominance Saturday loosened up the Nets’ defense,  and the Lakers had some easier looks, going 19-for-34 from downtown, a scintillating 55.9% clip. McLemore, picked up after Houston put him on waivers, drilled five triples, one of six Lakers to hit multiple money balls.

Second-year man Horton-Tucker was especially aggressive driving into the defense, finishing with 14 points and adding a career-high 11 assists.

Even with the win, the Lakers will still be shorthanded going forward. Kyle Kuzma (calf), Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Wes Matthews (Achilles) are all questionable for Monday. LeBron and AD are still weeks away from stepping onto the court.

Knicks D is Legit

Another game, another Knicks performance grinding their opponent to dust.

On Sunday, New York put the clamps on the Toronto Raptors, winning their second straight with a 102-96 win.

Julius Randle had a team-high 26 points, with eight rebounds and five assists. RJ Barrett, who had led the Knicks in scoring the previous three games, chipped in with 19 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Like the Lakers, the Knicks are also 5-6 in their last 11, and they’re also hanging their hat on D.

They’ve held the opposition to an NBA-best 102.8 points per game over that stretch. Teams are shooting only 35% from deep (sixth) and 43.8% from the field (fourth).

But as their problem has been all year, the Knicks struggle to put the ball in the hoop. They are 28th in scoring on the year, potting just 105.3 a game. It’s a big reason they’re 27-27 and holding onto eighth in the East, instead of in the thick of fighting for home court in the first round.

What’s the Best Bet?

Even with the blowout win over Brooklyn, the Lakers are scoring just 103.6 points a game since James went down. That ranks 28th over that span, but they may have found something with Drummond as the focal point of their makeshift offense.

It’s for that reason — and that LA is 4-1 ATS in their last five — I’d take the Lakers and the points. You can also expect both defenses to show up, and this could be a 90’s-style, sub-100 grinder.

The pick: Lakers +3 (-110) and UNDER 205.5 (-110)


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