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The New York Knicks take on the OKC Thunder in a Saturday matinee on NBA TV. The Knicks have been one of the best stories across the league this season. It appears that the Thibs effect is real as head coach Tom Thibodeau has brought a new life to this team. New York currently sit at 19-19 on the season.
This matchup sees two teams that are hovering around mediocrity. With that being said, these are definitely two teams that have exceeded our expectations thus far. OKC is 16-21 on the year and seems to play competitive basketball night in and night out. The Knicks are full of life with a young roster led by All-Star Julius Randle. This matchup sees many key injuries that will certainly have an impact. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Knicks-Thunder prediction and pick.
Here's how the sportsbooks are lining up this contest:
NBA Odds: Knicks-Thunder Odds
New York Knicks -5 (-110)
Oklahoma City Thunder +5 (-110)
Over 210 Points (-110)
Under 210 Points (-110)
Why The Knicks Could Cover The Spread
The New York Knicks have been a very exciting team to watch this season. The young talent that this team possesses along with the surge of Randle and Barrett have catapulted this group to playoff contention. Thibedeau has transformed this team in many ways, especially defensively. The Knicks essentially went from worst to first in the league on the defensive end in a year. The culture has shifted in the Big Apple. The Knicks carry a 21-17 record ATS into this one.
The Knicks have been hot of late, going 9-4 ATS over their last 13 games. The Knicks are 8-4 ATS as a favorite this season and 2-3 ATS as an away favorite. Although the Knicks may not be at full-strength without Rose and Robinson, they will definitely look to take advantage of a DEPLETED Thunder team. The Thunder will be playing without Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazley, George Hill, Diallo, and Trevor Ariza. The question isn't who's out, it's really who's in?
Over their last 10 games, the Knicks have the advantage in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and all percentages from the field. Randle and Barrett have had their way with teams all year long. Randle has averaged 23 and 11 and Barrett has been scoring in bunches, averaging 18 points per game on 52% shooting over the last 10. The Knicks are the better team in this matchup, plain and simple. After getting blown out in Milwaukee on Thursday night, the Knicks are in a prime spot to get a bounce-back win against a depleted Thunder team today.
Why The Thunder Could Cover The Spread
OKC has been a deceiving team this season. The talent on paper just isn't there. This team still finds a way to stay competitive and cover spreads on a consistent basis. The Thunder are 20-16-1 ATS this season and have played well of late. They've covered the spread in four of their last six games. The Thunder have had strange success against the Atlantic Division, going 10-2 ATS over their last 12 against teams within the division.
On paper, this team is definitely the lesser of the two. They have been the better team head to head, though. The Thunder defeated the Knicks earlier this season and have gone 3-0 ATS against the Knicks dating back to last season. In those three games, the Thunder have outscored the Knicks by 18 points on average. OKC has played solid defense all year and has a chance to slow down the Knicks below-average offensive unit in this affair.
OKC is coming off of two straight victories and will not back down from a Knicks team that just lost to the Bucks by 33 points. The Thunder will look to continue their recent successes on the back of veteran big man Al Horford. Al Horford has been steady for the Thunder this year, averaging 15 points per game on 48% shooting from the field at home. They will need him to match his 20+ that he put up against the Mavs Thursday night to cover today.
Final Knicks-Thunder Prediction & Pick
I'm siding with the over in this Saturday matinee. Even though the Knicks are the better team, the Thunder have had their number. This sort of deception is driving me away from picking a side. I'm on the over for a few reasons. The total has dropped two points since it opened, creating some value. Over the last three games between these teams, the average score has been around 218 points. The over has hit in four of the past five games between the Knicks and the Thunder. Look for the Thunder to push the pace to keep up with the Knicks steady shooting.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR Knicks-Thunder: 115, 107 (Over 210 (-110)
