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Free NBA Picks New York Knicks: Season-Long Handicapping and Specialization 4/5/2024

by Spencer Toth - 4/5/2024

Free NBA picks New York Knicks vs Chicago Bulls Donte DiVincenzo

Throughout the NBA season, Doc’s Sports is the place to get all your NBA betting needs. Whether it’s player props, moneyline, spreads, or totals, we will be breaking down every single New York Knicks game and giving out best bets along the way.

Last night, the Knicks snapped their 3-game losing skid with a 120-109 victory over the Sacramento Kings. The Knicks found themselves down 21 points in the early stages, but battled back to secure what would eventually be a comfortable victory. The resilience from New York was clear on both ends of the court, and they dug their heels in to win the second half, 68-49. Josh Hart put up the second most points of his career (31), and his hustle on the glass saw him fall 1 rebound and 2 assists short of a 30-point triple double. Brunson was jaw dropping on the offensive end, scoring 35 points with 11 assists, while the Knicks bullied the Kings down low with 60 paint points over the course of the 48 minutes.

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From a betting perspective, we had a perfect night. The Knicks made us sweat, but the -3.5 point spread was eventually covered after their monstrous second half performance. Our second bet of the night was on D’Aaron Fox to secure 2+ steals, and his active hands-on defense had him finish with 3.

Tonight, the Knicks (45-31) head to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls (36-40) on the second leg of a back-to-back set. This is an absolutely brutal scheduling spot for the Knicks. New York is not only playing the second leg of a back-to-back, but it is also their 3rd game in 4 nights, having played on Tuesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, the Bulls haven’t played since Monday, giving them a massive rest advantage in this one. Chicago is virtually locked into a play-in spot against the Atlanta Hawks for a chance at a postseason berth, and things haven’t really gone to plan in Chicago this season. Lonzo Ball was forced to sit out the entire season, and leading scorer Zach LaVine was limited to just 25 games this season with plenty of off court turmoil dampening the Bulls season. On the bright side, DeMar DeRozan continues to play solid basketball as the clear number one option in Chicago. However, DeRozan is now 34 years old and will likely start declining at the completion of this season. Despite their play-in tournament position, the Bulls don’t really have much to play for, as they have no legitimate title aspirations and will instead be focusing on ending the season strong to set up for next year. Coby White has been rapidly improving, too, and is one of the candidates for Most Improved Player this season. His 19.3 PPG, 4.7 Rebounds, and 5.2 Assists are all career highs, and the 24-year-old still has plenty of time to develop further.

This one will be a tight matchup, as the Knicks are the better team, but the venue and scheduling will make this one much closer than initially thought. Home teams win a whopping 62% of games in the NBA, and teams with 0 days rest are just 169-216 straight up this season. There is no question the Knicks are the more well-rounded team. However, if they elect to sit guys like Mitchell Robinson, who is coming off a recent ankle surgery, the Bulls could pull off the win at home.

New York thrives when they have their defense humming, especially on the interior. Head coach Tom Thibodeau refuses to allow easy baskets inside, and even prefers to give up 3 point looks than uncontested 2-point layups. The addition of Robinson back into the Knicks team elevates them in the gritty categories, as Robinson is dominant on the offensive glass and is one of the league’s best shot blockers on defense. There is no shortage of heart for the Knicks, and a Bulls team that is just 5-8 across their last 13 games will not exactly strike fear in the Knicks veins.

New York is a 1.5-point road underdog against the Bulls, with the total set at a measly 212 points. It’s hard to argue with the Knicks coming in as slight underdogs considering the aforementioned circumstances, and the possible absences, but I will still be scooping up the Knicks at a plus money moneyline price. New York has shown that through thick and thin, their defensive tenacity and microwave offense from Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo is a recipe for success. The Bulls have struggled to put wins on the board all season long and aren’t blowing anyone away with their 19-20 home record this year. The Bulls look like they are just waiting for the season to be over, while the Knicks are ready to die on the court for their team. The extra effort will tilt a tight contest in favor of New York. The Bulls are the inferior team, and their lack of 3 ball shooting makes the possibility of an upset win that much more unlikely. The 3 ball is the great equalizer in the NBA,. And when the Knicks shut the door inside, the Bulls will be forced to adapt their game plan. All and all, the Knicks rarely get underdog price tags against teams like the Bulls. And even with the circumstances they will be the pick tonight. As long as Brunson plays, the Knicks should be the favorite.

For the second bet of the night, we’re going to be looking at Donte DiVincenzo Over 19.5 points. It’s no secret that DiVincenzo will be getting most of these points from behind the arc, but his sky high 4.5 3’s line has me looking at the points instead. DiVincenzo has cashed this prop in 5 of his last 7 games and has shown no signs of slowing down. The Bulls aren’t the best at shutting down elite perimeter shooters, and we have the extra benefit that if Brunson doesn’t suit up, DiVincenzo will get an few extra shots to reach this total. Regardless of Brunson’s status, DiVincenzo has turned into the second option for the Knicks, and doesn’t need a second invitation to trigger it from behind the arc.

Pick: New York Knicks Moneyline +100 2 Units

Pick: Donte DiVinecenzo Over 19.5 Points 2 Units

2023-24 Season record:

ML Record: 11-4

Spread Record: 24-18

Total Record: 15-13

Player Props Record: 20-32

Total: 70-67

Up 8.9 Units

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