Tip off: 10:35 PM EST
Spread: NY -5
Total: 205
M/L: NY -210, GS +180
Odds taken from Bookmaker
This game promises to be the highest scoring affair of the night, and the bookmakers know it. Pitting two teams that play as little defense as the Knicks and Warriors do makes for exciting basketball, and they may even be able to eclipse the 205 point total set by NBA oddsmakers.
The Knicks began the season with a somewhat surprising victory over the Paul Pierce-less Celtics. Carmelo Anthony erupted for 37 points while getting to the line 15 times, and Amar’e Stoudemire contributed 21 points as well. Rookie Iman Shumpert injured his MCL, though, weakening the Knicks backcourt rotation for at least the next two to four weeks.
The Warriors knocked off one of the best teams in the league, too, in the Chicago Bulls. The Warriors held the Bulls backcourt of Rose and Hamilton to just 23 points combined and Luol Deng was the only Bull to score over 13 points, though the total for the game fell just under the 201 set by Vegas oddsmakers.
Some betting trends:
New York is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games and the total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Knicks’ last 10 games. The Knicks are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games and 3-8 SU in their last 11 on the road. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the Knicks’ last 6 road games and it has gone OVER in all 5 of the last 5 against Golden State. The Knicks are 1-4 SU In their last 5 against the Warriors and the total ahs gone OVER in 4 of the Knicks’ last 5 games on the road in Golden State. The Knicks are 1-8 SU in their last 9 games on the road against the Warriors. The Knicks are 3-5-1 ATS in their last 9 games against Golden State on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of the Warriors’ last 9 games and it has gone UNDER in all 5 of their last 5 at home. The Warriors are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games at home and they are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against New York. The total has gone OVER in all 5 of the Warriors’ last 5 games against the Knicks and it has gone OVER in 4 of the last 5 against NY at home. The Warriors are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games at home against the Knicks.
Key Matchups:
Amar’e Stoudemire vs. David Lee
Lee scored 22 pts and pulled down 7 boards while shooting 8 of 16 from the floor against the Bulls last night, but Amar’e will be fresh. Expect Stoudemire to try to work Lee as much as possible and attempt to get the Warriors’ best interior player into foul trouble. After Lee hits the bench, the Warriors have no one worth replacing him to come in. If Amar’e can get Lee into foul trouble, it should spell a quick demise for the Warriors.
Carmelo Anthony vs. Dorrell Wright
Needless to say, Wright has his hands full with Melo, but he is a pretty darn good player in his own right. After lingering for years in Miami, either injured or not ready to play, he emerged as one of the best small forwards in the league last year, and possibly one of the most underrated. Wright’s bread and butter is the three point shot, but he is also a capable defender. The problem, of course, is that once Melo beats Wright off the dribble, there is only the goofy footed Andris Biedrins to protect the rim, since Lee isn’t much of a shot blocker.
