We have a star-studded NBA matchup tonight as the LA Lakers battle the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. LeBron James will be on the court as he looks to take another step towards history, but in his way will stand a resilient New York team led by Jalen Brunson. Which team will come out on top? Our NBA expert has picks, predictions and best bets for this huge Lakers vs Knicks matchup, so let’s dive in.
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LA Lakers vs New York Knicks prediction
Both of these teams have been inconsistent this season, but have shown the potential to make it to the playoffs and beyond. However, the Lakers’ star players should be well rested after LeBron sat out last time and that could make the difference here. There’s no doubt that the Knicks have been a surprise package this season, but there’s a lot to like about the Lakers as the season has gone on and they could pull the slight upset in this one.
Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks spread, odds & betting lines
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Point Spread: Lakers +3.5, Knicks -3.5
Total Points Over/Under: 230.5 points
Money Line Odds: Lakers +132, Knicks -156
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LA Lakers vs New York Knicks expert picks
We’ve got 2 standout NBA picks for tonight’s game between the Lakers and Knicks.
Lakers vs Knicks money line pick: Lakers ML (+132)
The Lakers’ 5-game road trip is off to a poor start and they will be trying to avoid a third straight defeat. After a controversial loss to the Celtics, they were beaten 121-104 in Brooklyn last night as both LeBron James and Anthony Davis sat out the game. They are expected back in the lineup tonight, which should give the LA a much-needed boost on both ends of the floor. LA is 11-11 when LeBron and AD share the floor, which is not great but it is better than their 23-28 record as things stand. LA’s biggest advantage will be the absence of Mitchell Robinson, which leaves a massive gap for them on the inside to exploit.
And that’s exactly why the Knicks have struggled over their last 7 games, losing 5 of them. Their defense just isn’t there right now, 3 of their last 5 opponents have put up over 120 points against them and the high-paced Lakers will be a tough matchup. The Knicks have just 2 wins in the last 6 meetings, they are one of the rare teams in the NBA who have a worse home record than away record at just 12-13 SU this season at Madison Square Garden. Julius Randle will be their primary guy on offense. He has scored 26.1 points per game over his last 10 outings, I wouldn’t be surprised if he went for 30+ points.
The Lakers must get back on the winning track as soon as possible as they are slipping in the West standings and find themselves only 13th at the moment. AD and LeBron both rested against Brooklyn, so they can give themselves the best chance of winning today and I fully expect them to deliver. I’ll take LA on the money line.
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Lakers vs Knicks Over/Under totals pick: Over 230.5 (-110)
The absence of Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks is a big factor when betting on the total for this game. The bar has been set pretty high at 230.5 points, which is a lot considering these teams have averaged only 218 per game over their last 10 outings. However, with no interior presence and a hungry AD coming back, the Knicks will have a hard time controlling the tempo of this game. They are 14-11 on the O/U at MSG this season, while the Lakers have gone 15-11 in road games.
The Knicks have allowed 121.2 per game over their last 5 outings, and they are an ideal opponent for the Lakers who have also allowed 120+ points in 3 of their last 4 games and rank 5th in pace of play, averaging 103.1 possessions per game. Don’t count on a ton of defense to be played in this one.
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