New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs: NBA Betting Odds and Picks

New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs
Thursday, 1/2/14, 8:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: San Antonio -11.5
Current Betting Line: San Antonio -11.5
Opening Total: 200
Current Total: 201.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The New York Knicks are expecting F Carmelo Anthony back in the lineup Thursdayks, San

New York has lost three games in a row, including a 115-100 defeat to the Toronto Raptors as 6.5-point road underdogs last time out, while going OVER the betting total for the third time in four contests. The Knicks are hoping that forward Carmelo Anthony can return to the floor for the first time since Dec. 23, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. He led the team with 16 points over 35 minutes of action in a 120-89 setback to the Spurs on Nov. 10. New York is 2-5 SU and 3-3-1 ATS as road underdogs of 9.5 to 12 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Knicks desperately need the NBA’s third-leading scorer, as Anthony is averaging 26.3 points per game. “Getting there, feeling a lot better each day,” commented Anthony earlier this week. New York still has plenty of injuries problems, with Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni and Metta World Peace all expected to miss this non-conference affair.

San Antonio has won three games in a row by scoring 112-plus points in each of those contests, including a 113-92 victory over the Brooklyn Nets as 12-point home favorites last time out. The Spurs are 12-4 SU at the AT&T Center, including a 6-1 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. The team has three probable starters averaging in double figures, with point guard Tony Parker leading the way at 18.0 points a contest. San Antonio is 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS as home favorites of 9.5 to 12 points this season, with the OVER going 4-2 in that situation.

The Spurs have compiled a 57-9 SU record in homes games in which Tim Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili all score 15-or-more points, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. San Antonio has one of the best benches in the league, with the group pacing the league in averaging 46.7 points per game.