Lakers vs Knicks Picks, Predictions & the Best Prop to Bet (Feb 1)

• The Lakers are sizable underdogs at the Knicks as they continue an eight-game road trip
• New York has won five in a row by an average of 25.8 PPG
• See my favorite Lakers vs Knicks predictions and picks, plus the best player prop to bet

A heavyweight interconference clash between two of the NBA’s biggest brands highlights Sunday’s schedule as the Los Angeles Lakers (29-18, 17-10 away, 25-22 ATS) visit the New York Knicks (30-18, 19-6 home, 25-23 ATS) at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 pm ET on NBC/Peacock.

The Knicks have turned a corner since a brutal 2-9 stretch spanning late December and early January; New York has won five straight entering play on Sunday, covering the spread in all five and averaging an absurd 25.8-point margin of victory. The Lakers have won three of four and five of seven, but are playing the penultimate contest of an arduous eight-game road trip. They could get a boost from the return of Austin Reaves (26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.3 APG), who’s listed as questionable due to a calf injury that’s held him out since Christmas.

Below, I have set out my top Lakers vs Knicks picks and props to target, followed by the latest LAL/NYK odds and betting splits.

Jump to: PICKS || ODDS || SPLITS

Knicks vs. Lakers Prediction: Best Bets, Odds, and Player Props for Sunday Night

While the star power suggests a shootout, situational betting trends and sharp money signals point toward a defensive grind at Madison Square Garden. The oddsmakers have set the total at 228.5, a number that likely overreacts to the Lakers’ recent 142-point explosion. However, regression appears imminent for both sides given the venue and historical coaching tendencies.

Game-Total Pick: Under 229.5 (-115 at BetMGM)

A breakdown of the data reveals a powerful correlation for the under. The over has failed to hit in each of the last five Knicks games at home as a favorite, indicating that New York effectively dictates a slower, half-court tempo at MSG when expected to win.

Conversely, despite recent offensive fireworks, the Lakers tend to play lower-scoring games when traveling with momentum; the over has hit in just one of the Lakers’ last seven games on the road after a win. With New York listed as 4.5-point favorites, expecting a physical, playoff-intensity battle rather than a defenively-suspect All-Star showcase offers the most significant edge.

Spread Pick: Knicks -4.5 (-112 at DraftKings)

New York enters this contest with a decisive edge in momentum at home. The Knicks have covered five in a row and are 7-1 (.875) ATS at home after a win over their last eight games, showcasing an ability to stack dominant performances.

While the Lakers have been respectable on the road (3-1 ATS over their last four), New York’s superior Net Rating at home suggests they can control the game and cover the two-possession number.

Best Player Prop: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 Points (-115 at BetMGM)

With Los Angeles’ defensive attention likely split between containing Jalen Brunson’s dribble penetration and closing out on shooters, Karl-Anthony Towns should find high-quality looks, both inside and out. The current line of 18.5 points is conservative given the matchup; the Lakers allow 51.4 points in the paint per game, and Towns will be essential for spacing the floor against Los Angeles’ interior size. I project him to clear this number through a mix of perimeter shooting and post touches.

Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks Odds

The market positions the Knicks as 4.5 to 5.0-point home favorites. DraftKings has the best ATS price on the Knicks, while bet365 has the best ATS price on the Lakers. Despite public backing for the Lakers, the books require a slightly higher premium (-112) to back NYK -4.5. The total ranges from 228.5 (DraftKings) to 229.5 (BetMGM).

Implied Probability and Payouts

Based on the current moneyline odds, the vig-free implied probabilities are:

• New York Knicks: 63.1% win probability
• Los Angeles Lakers: 36.9% win probability

For bettors playing the Moneyline straight up, a $20 wager yields distinct returns:

• Lakers (+168): Returns $33.60 profit (Total payout: $53.60).
• Knicks (-192): Returns $10.60 profit (Total payout: $30.60).

Line Movement Analysis

The moneyline has steamed from an opener of -175 to -192 for New York. Meanwhile, the game total opened at 229.5 and ticked down to 228.5 at most books. This movement against the public (which is hammering the over) is a strong signal that professional money expects a more-defensive battle. Bettors may still be able to find the O/U at 229.5 at BetMGM if they hurry.

LAL vs NYK Public Betting Splits

The NBA public betting landscape for Sunday night reveals heavy investment in an offensive showcase, creating a great opportunity to fade the public.

Game Total

The most glaring disparity on the board lies in the Total market. The public is overwhelmingly anticipating points, likely influenced by the Lakers’ recent offensive output. According to the latest data, 86.7% of all tickets and 86.3% of the handle are backing the over.

Despite this lopsided support, the total has dropped from an opener of 229.5 to 228.5. This reverse line movement – where the line moves against the heavy public betting percentage – is a classic indicator of sharp money hitting the under. We are aligning with the house and the sharps against nearly 90% of the public tickets.

The Spread

Despite New York’s strong home metrics, the betting public is grabbing the points with the visitors. The spread market shows 62.0% of the bets coming in on Los Angeles, indicating confidence in the road underdog. The money percentage is slightly lower but still favors the visitors, with 59.3% of the handle on the Lakers. Our selection of Knicks -4.5 fades this popular road dog.

Moneyline

An interesting split has emerged on the Moneyline. While the ticket count favors the home favorites (59.3% of bets on NYK), the larger wagers appear to be backing the upset, with 56.8% of the money on the Lakers straight-up. This suggests that while casual bettors expect a Knicks win, some heavier wallets are speculating on the high-payout upset.

Knicks vs Lakers Injury Updates for Sunday Night

The injury landscape could heavily influence the pace and scoring output. While the superstars are expected to feature, the availability of key supporting-cast members remains in flux, particularly for the Lakers’ backcourt.

The primary storyline is Austin Reaves (Questionable, calf). Reaves acts as a crucial connector in the Lakers’ offense; his potential absence would force Los Angeles to rely even more on isolation sets, which correlates with my under 228.5 prediction.

On the other side, the confirmed absence of Miles McBride removes an elite point-of-attack defender for New York, likely forcing Mike Brown to extend Jalen Brunson’s minutes significantly.

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