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Free NBA Picks New York Knicks: Season-Long Handicapping and Specialization 1/17/2025

by Spencer Toth - 1/17/2025

Free NBA picks New York Knicks season long handicapping Anthony Edwards Minnesota Timberwolves

The New York Knicks kicked off the campaign's second half with an overtime victory against the 76ers on Wednesday night, but the season is far from over. All year long, Doc’s Sports will break down every New York Knicks weekday  game with free best bet recommendations along the way. 

Doc’s Sports offers NBA picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

On Wednesday night, the Knicks needed overtime to take down a shorthanded 76ers side 125-119. Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence loomed large, but the Knicks were able to gut out a victory on the back of 38 points from Jalen Brunson. Tyrese Maxey and Paul George combined for 59 points, but they couldn’t get the job done without big man Joel Embiid. Josh Hart had another classic performance, posting 17 rebounds, 12 assists, and 10 points in the win. It was Hart’s fourth triple double in the last ten games, as he continues to remind the league he can make an impact without filling up the bucket. 

From a betting perspective, we went 0-1 with a push. The Philadelphia 76ers pushed the +6 point spread in their defeat, as we got caught with a bad beat after they tied the game late, just to fail to cover in the extra frame. Our other pick was on Kelly Oubre Jr. to stay under 13.5 points, but he went just over with 16. 

Tonight, the New York Knicks (27-15) will head home to host the Minnesota Timberwolves (21-19). These two teams last met a week before Christmas when the Knicks were able to pick up a crucial road win with a 133-107 beatdown. Karl-Anthony Towns reminded the Timberwolves front office what they traded away with 32 points and 20 rebounds in that matchup. The Knicks overpowered the Timberwolves 16-6 on the offensive glass, which was a crucial factor in their victory. 

Every time these two teams meet, the blockbuster trade over the offseason will need to be reexamined. The Timberwolves sent Towns to New York in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. As someone who follows the Knicks, I was hesitant about the price for Towns, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Karl-Anthony Towns has become a crucial part of the Knicks offense, and his play on the defensive end has improved drastically since he arrived in the Big Apple. His efficiency on offense has shattered his career highs, and his ability to vacuum up rebounds has him second in the league with 13.9 per game. For the Timberwolves, they got exactly what they bargained for from DiVincenzo and Randle. Donte DiVincenzo has been an energizer off the bench and is capable of heating up from behind the arc. For Randle, he is a crucial part of this offense and has been able to develop rapport with Rudy Gobert on the defensive end. 

As of now, the New York Knicks have won this trade, but that doesn’t mean they will brush aside the Timberwolves with ease. The Knicks have struggled to string wins together in recent weeks, going a pedestrian 3-5 in their last 8 games. They have struggled to get the stops they need and have allowed 116.5 PPG in that span despite holding the Magic and Raptors to just 100.5 PPG in two of those games. Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa have been unable to replace the defense from Towns, and the Knicks will need one of the two to step up as Towns’ injury problems have flared up once again. He is questionable for tonight and has missed two of the last six games for New York including Wednesday’s matchup against the 76ers. 

This matchup will be a great battle between a truly elite offense and a rock solid defense. The Knicks are 2nd in the league in offensive rating, while the Timberwolves are second on the defensive end. Rudy Gobert does a fantastic job at shutting down easy shots in the paint, and the Knicks have no shortage of players willing to cut to the basket. New York will look to draw Gobert away from the hoop in the pick-and-roll. However, if Towns is unable to suit up it will heavily change their gameplan. The elite Knicks offense and dominant Timberwolves defense will steal the show, but the winner of this game will be determined by the play on the other end of the court. The Knicks are an average defensive team, while the Timberwolves are average on offense, and whoever can beat their season averages will emerge victorious. The Timberwolves have been struggling on the offensive end, and the Knicks are a nightmare matchup for them. Minnesota thrives on the back of elite play from Anthony Edwards and doesn’t have the personnel needed to expose the Knicks weakness inside. OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges will force the Timberwolves to beat New York with someone other than Edwards. Julius Randle could be poised for a big game. However, it is hard to see either of these teams lighting it up offensively. As a result, we will be taking Under 218.5 for our first pick of the night. 

For the second bet of the night, we will be targeting Randle to surpass 23.5 Points + Assists. Randle will look to put on a show in his return to New York, and the Knicks don’t match up well against the powerful forward. He surpassed this line with just his points last time these two teams met and will be able to dominate New York inside. His ability to create his own shot in isolation will prove valuable when the Knicks are distracted with Edwards on the perimeter. I would give a slight lean towards New York picking up the win in this one. However, with the status of Towns still up in the air, there is no reason to take a risk on the Knicks with two other solid picks available. 

Pick: Knicks vs Timberwolves Under 218.5 5 Units

Pick: Julius Randle Over 23.5 Points + Assists 4 Units

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