Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Betting Predictions, Odds, Picks & Lines
In the early Saturday basketball betting game, The Knicks will host the Raptors as both teams try to extend their winning streaks. Toronto is back in the playoff contention after a rather underwhelming season. They’ve won four straight and are now tied with Chicago at 11th place in the East. The Raptors are also only half-game behind Washington for the final play-in spot. Over the whole season, Toronto is 25-34 straight up and 26-33 against the spread. The Knicks are in even better form at the moment. They’re without a doubt the hottest team in the league right now. New York has won 8 straight and covered in 11 consecutive games. They’re now at 33-17 for the season and sit at 4th spot in the East. Against the spread, their record is 38-21-1. Two teams split the previous matchups this season, each winning once.
Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Betting Odds And Line Movement
The opening odds favored the Knicks by -2 but with early money going their way, the line has moved to -3.5. The total is set at 216, a slight drop from the initial 217.
Notes On The Toronto Raptors
Toronto fans will be happy with the recent streak, but they haven’t exactly faced high-level opposition. Their wins came against the tanking Orlando and Oklahoma, San Antonio, and Brooklyn without Durant and Harden. It’s been a tough season for 2019 champions marred with injuries and no true home advantage. They’ve actually played better than their record shows. Their +0.7 point differential ranks them 14th in the league. The key players, Lowry, Siakam, and VanVleet have all missed a fair number of games. With all three of them on the floor, the Raptors are +5.7 points per 100 possessions. In fact, this may be one of the rare occasions they’re near full strength. They’re coming off a huge win against the Nets on Wednesday. Paskal Siakam looked like his old self and led the scoring with 27 points. OG Anunoby added 25 on his return to action.
For the Saturday game, the Raptors are without Boucher, Watson Jr., and Harris. Rodney Hood is game time decision.
Notes On The New York Knicks
Even the most optimistic New York fans couldn’t have imagined the season the team is having. The Knicks sit 4th in the East, have won 8 straight, and feature one of the best defenses in the league. They’ve been excellent on defense all season, but the offensive improvements made the hottest team in the league. Their Offensive Rating during the winning streak is tied for the 5th in the NBA. A big part of it is their increased willingness to shoot threes. They made huge strides in that department and are now shooting 38.7% from deep. This puts them 6th in the whole league. The Knicks are coming off a hard-earned overtime victory vs the Hawks. Julius Randle was a spectacular one again leading the team with 40 points. He also added 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
Mitchell Robinson is still out for the Knicks, while Alec Burks is also unavailable due to the health and safety protocols.
Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Betting Prediction & Pick: -3.5
The Knicks played overtime on Wednesday but two days of rest should be more than enough. Especially since they’re playing at home. When two teams met two weeks ago, the Knick won the tightly contested matchup mostly thanks to their play on defense. They should be able to shut down the Raptors once again, especially from beyond the arch. As a home favorite this season, the Knicks are 13-2 ATS and we see them covering again.
