Lakers vs. Knicks Odds, Preview, Picks and Prediction
Lakers vs. Knicks Odds
| Lakers Odds | +3.5 |
| Knicks Odds | -3.5 |
| Over/Under | 214.5 |
| Date | Tuesday, Nov. 23 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks will battle at Madison Square Garden. Entering play, Los Angeles has lost three of their last four contests, with their lone win during that stretch coming against the hapless Detroit Pistons. New York has experienced similar struggles of late, having lost four of their last six contests. Oddsmakers anticipate a tightly-contested affair between these two struggling teams this evening, pricing the Knicks as 3.5-point home favorites on the spread.
Let’s take a closer look at Lakers vs. Knicks odds and NBA betting tips for tonight’s matchup on TNT.
Los Angeles Lakers (+3.5)
Before we dive into any analysis on this game, it is worth noting that LeBron James is out for tonight’s action, due to a suspension handed down by the league after his hostile act directed at Isaiah Stewart during the Lakers game against the Pistons this past Sunday. Yet, not all hope is lost for the Lakers in this one. When James is off of the floor, but Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Taylor Horton-Tucker are on the floor—Los Angeles has been strong on both ends of the floor, ranking in the 76th percentile or better in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Still, there are a number of legitimate concerns for the Lakers in general. On the season, this group ranks only 24th in the league in Net Rating. Over their last five games, the Lakers are being outscored by 6.2 points per 100 possessions. This is also a roster that has struggled mightily on the road to begin the new campaign—ranking 21st in Net Rating and posting only two wins in six matchups. Although the Knicks have experienced their own struggles, it is far from a certainty that the Lakers will be able to take advantage in this spot tonight.
New York Knicks (-3.5)
Last season, the Knicks emerged as one of the toughest matchups in the NBA as a result of tenacious defense and a gritty style of basketball that made it difficult for opponents to score each and every time down the floor. However, New York’s season was ultimately cut short, in part, due to their lack of offensive weapons. This past offseason, New York addressed their offensive concerns by adding Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker to their rotation. These new weapons have paid dividends on the offensive side of the ball, but they have come at significant cost to Tom Thibodeau’s prideful defense.
A year after being one of the toughest defensive teams in the NBA, New York ranks only 18th in defensive efficiency through 17 games this season. Over their last eight contests, this number has improved only slightly, and they are still allowing 108.0 points per 100 possessions. New York has been surprisingly deficient defending the perimeter, allowing their opponents to shoot 35.1 percent from beyond the arc—which ranks 21st in the league.
Lakers vs. Knicks Picks
The easy train of thought in this matchup is to fade the road underdogs, who will be without their best player—LeBron James. Yet, this is a game between two struggling teams, which could create a small amount of value on the road team in this spot. New York ranks 24th in the NBA in Net Rating at Madison Square Garden this season. The Knicks could be missing Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, and Mitchell Robinson in this contest. A small wager on Los Angeles could turn out to be a smart decision, even with James out of the lineup.
PICK: Lakers +4.5 (-110)
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