Raptors vs Knicks Online Betting Odds
The Toronto Raptors will make the trip down to Madison Square Garden in New York to take on the New York Knicks on Friday night. Despite terrible starts to the year, both teams are right in the thick of things in the weak Atlantic Division. [ad-4468020]
Toronto Raptors (11-15) at New York Knicks (9-19)
Date: Friday, December 27, 2013
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Lambeau Field
City: New York, New York
O/U Odds: 193.5
Spread: Toronto -2
Money Line: Toronto -135, New York +115
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This game will be the first of four meetings between the clubs this season.
As bad as the Knicks have been this year, and they’ve been bad, the team is 9-10 against Eastern Conference opponents (0-9 against Western Conference opponents). Their last game was a blowout loss at the hands of Oklahoma City, 123-94.
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Star forward Carmelo Anthony missed the game with a sprained left ankle which left others to carry the scoring load. Guard J.R. Smith was the only starter to reach double-digits in scoring, scoring 20 points. Forward Amar’e Stoudemire led the team in scoring off the bench with 22 points on 10 of 16 points, while guard Tom Hardaway Jr. had one of his best career games off the bench with 21 points. As a team, the Knicks shot 42.2 percent from the field and just 26.1 percent from three. Even worse than that, they hit on just 63.2 percent of their free throw attempts.
The Knicks didn’t fare much better at the defensive end of the court. Despite 29 minutes from former defensive player of the year Tyson Chandler, the Knicks allowed the Thunder to connect on 53.6 percent of their shots from the field, and 54.2 percent of their shots from the field. Russell Westbrook did what he wanted in the game, recording just the second triple-double on Christmas Day since 1980, while Kevin Durant led all scorers with 29 points.
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The Raptors have been more efficient offensively since shipping Rudy Gay off to Sacramento, but they’re still not up to competing with a Western Conference power like San Antonio, whom they fell to in their last game by a score of 112-99.
The Raptors put up a good fight in the game but San Antonio was able to pull away late. Guards Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross each poured in 23 points to tie for the team lead in scoring. Emerging center Jonas Valanciunas had an efficient day, scoring 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting, adding nine boards, three blocks, and two assists.
The team had trouble defending shifty guards Tony Parker, who led all scorers with 26 points on 10 of 19 shooting, and Manu Ginobili, who poured in 18 points and knocked down all nine of his free throw attempts.
The Knicks have alternated wins and losses over their last nine games, but it feels like that streak is set to come to an end as the Raptors look to build on their Atlantic Division lead with a win.
The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games, while the Knicks are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 home games.
The play: Toronto -2
