New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors 12/31/20: NBA Basketball free preview, analysis, prediction, odds and pick against the spread.
2020-12-31 19:30:00 EDT
The New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors do battle at the Amalie Arena on Thursday night.
The New York Knicks started their season with two predictable losses, but they’re suddenly one of the hottest teams in the league as they will be looking for a third straight win after blowing past the Bucks and the previously undefeated Cavaliers. In Tuesday’s 95-86 win in Cleveland, Julius Randle led the team with a triple-double of 28 points with 12 rebounds and 11 assists, Reggie Bullock added 17 points, Elfrid Payton scored 14 points with seven assists while RJ Barrett chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Knicks shot 43 percent from the field and 14 of 25 from the 3-point line as they jumped out to an early 16-point lead and never looked in danger as they rode the hot hand of Randle.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors are still searching for their first win of the season as they will be hoping to stop a three-game skid after falling to the 76ers in a 100-93 road loss on Tuesday. Kyle Lowry led the team with 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby each scored 20 points, but no other player scored more than eight points. As a team, the Raptors shot just 35 percent from the field and 17 of 45 from the 3-point line as they got off to a nice start and led by eight points at halftime, before collapsing in the second half where they scored just 37 points. Aron Baynes scored just two points on one of eight shooting while Fred VanVleet scored just eight points on three of 12 shooting.
Looking at the betting trends, the Knicks are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games playing on one days rest and 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine games following a win. The Raptors are 0-6 ATS in their last six home games, 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a loss and 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall.
Head to head, the over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings overall, the Knicks are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings overall and the Knicks are 0-7 ATS in the last seven meetings in Toronto.
The Knicks have come to life with a couple of impressive wins so they’re suddenly looking dangerous heading into this meeting with the Raptors who have yet to win a game this season. This would usually be an easy win for the Raptors, but they’re not playing at their usual home and they just haven’t been able to find their feet yet. With that being said, I do have the Raptors winning this one, but the line just seems too high so I’m taking the Knicks and the points here.
