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Free NBA Picks New York Knicks: Season-Long Handicapping and Specialization 1/9/2024

by Spencer Toth - 1/9/2024

Free NBA picks New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers OG Anunoby

You’ve found the right place for all your New York Knicks betting needs, as Doc’s Sports will be providing a game breakdown, with best bets for every Knicks weekday matchup this season.

On Friday night, the Knicks made quick work of the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 128-92. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were impactful, scoring 57 of the 76ers 92 points. However, with the rest of the team shooting a combined 14/38 from the floor, the 76ers quickly fell behind and the Knicks never looked back. Jalen Brunson led the way with 29 points, as 7 different Knicks finished with double digit scoring numbers.

From a betting perspective, we had another profitable night. The 76ers came nowhere close to covering the (-6) point spread, but our other two picks cashed with ease. The total stayed well under 231.5 points, and Embiid’s dominance on the glass prevented Isiah Hartenstein from collecting 10+ rebounds, cashing our lone player prop of the night.

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The Knicks got back into action on Saturday night, stretching their win streak to 4 with a 121-105 victory over the lowly Wizards. Their defense stepped up once again, while Brunson and Julius Randle scored 33 and 39 points, respectively.

Tonight, the well-rested Knicks (21-15) welcome the Portland Trail Blazers (10-25) to Madison Square Garden, as they look to continue their ascension up the Eastern Conference standings. Portland made the decision to trade Damian Lillard to prioritize the future of the franchise, and it’s no surprise to see them among the Western Conference bottom feeders. Lillard was the face of the Trail Blazers franchise. And while they have a plethora of young talent, they’ve been unable to stay competitive without their leading scorer. Anfernee Simons has stepped up in Lillard’s absence, scoring 25.5 PPG, on a sizzling 38.9% clip from behind the arc. The 24-year-old has been crucial to the limited success Portland has seen and will need to have another big game if Portland is to keep this one interesting. Portland has consistently struggled on the offensive end, and a new look Knicks team will happily clamp down on the defensive end and make life miserable for the Trail Blazers. Portland is dead last in field goal percentage, Assists, and true shooting percentage. Despite the wealth of blooming superstar Portland has under their wing, they refuse to move the ball on offense, and would rather run low percentage, isolation heavy game plans. OG Anunoby will be eager to flex his defensive muscles tonight. And whether it’s up against Simons, or Jerami Grant, Anunoby will slow down one of Portland’s most impactful players.

The decision to acquire Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett has already paid dividends for the Knicks, as they are a perfect 4-0 since the deal, and the Raptors are a respectable 4-1. Both teams have gotten better in what looks to be a rare win for both sides in the NBA. The loss of Quickley off the bench may come back to haunt the Knicks, but the increased defensive intensity Anunoby brings onto the court with him has sparked life into a fading Knicks defensive unit. Since his arrival, the Knicks have held their opponents to just 100.4 PPG, en route to several big wins. Anunoby is one of the best wing defenders in the league. And while Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn have yet to make impacts for New York, Anunoby couldn't be a better fit for the Knicks. His lack of offensive desires have allowed Brunson and Randle to hog the ball on the offensive end, and good things happen when your two best scorers are taking plenty of shots. The spacing has been much better for New York, and they will have serious championship aspirations if they can keep their momentum rolling.

The spread is set at 12 points for tonight, implying we may see this one get out of hand in New York. The Knicks haven’t played since Saturday and will be fresh for tonight’s matchup. There is no doubt the Knicks have the ability to win this one handily, as they’ve won their last 3 games by 16+ points, while Portland has lost 3 of their last 4 by 20+ points. If the Trail Blazers find themselves behind early, they lack the drive to mount a comeback, or even push for the backdoor cover. I’m not a fan of laying double digit points against a relatively healthy Trail Blazers side, but the dominant run of form New York has been on has left me no other choice. New York will be able to dominate the paint on both ends of the court, and the Trail Blazers best defensive asset is limiting the 3 ball, something the Knicks are happy to play without. Randle has the size to bully the Trail Blazers down low. And once the double team comes, his head will be up to find the open man. An effective Knicks offense that matches up well with the Trail Blazers, combined with a suffocating Knicks defense coming up against one of the worst offenses in the league, will result in a comfortable Knicks victory. Lay the 12 points.

For the second bet of the night, we will be taking the Under once again. The line is set at 227 points, a total the Knicks have stayed under in their last 4 games. We could easily see the Trail Blazers get held to a double-digit total. And the heavy isolation and the lack of an effective 3 ball for the Knicks offense will see them struggle to get the total the rest of the way. Two defensively minded teams meeting up for what could turn into a blowout is the perfect time to take the Under, as a lack of fourth quarter intensity could be the final piece needed to cash this Under.

Finally, we’ll be taking the Under 1.5 at +120 odds on OG Anunoby 3’s. Anunoby is an elite defensive player. And while his shooting is solid, he won’t be getting many opportunities from beyond the arc. He’s been held to just 1 pointer in each of his last 3 games, and the Trail Blazers are very good at preventing a boatload of 3’s from falling. The plus money price on Anunoby to continue doing more of the same is too good to pass up and will be the final pick of the evening.

Pick: New York Knicks (-12) 1 Unit

Pick: Knicks vs Trail Blazers Under 227 2 Units

Pick: OG Anunoby Under 1.5 3’s +120 1 Unit

2023-24 Season record:

ML Record: 7-4

Spread Record: 9-10

Total Record: 6-5

Player Props Record: 10-18

Total: 31-39

Down 8.9 Units

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