The Golden State Warriors visit the New York Knicks Tuesday night, setting up what sportsbooks are figuring as a tightly-contested matchup for NBA betting.
The Warriors are coming off a two-point loss to the Hornets (albeit without resurgent MVP candidate Stephen Curry), while the Knicks narrowly avoided a fourth-quarter collapse to the league-worst Timberwolves on Sunday.
Who will bring their A-game for tonight's NBA clash? Find out with our Warriors vs. Knicks free picks and predictions for Tuesday, February 23.
Golden State Warriors at New York Knicks betting preview
Injuries
Warriors: Stephen Curry G (Probable), Kevon Looney C (Probable), James Wiseman C (Probable).
Knicks: Austin Rivers G (Questionable), Mitchell Robinson C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Knicks.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonGolden State is out to -3 from a -1.5 opener at DraftKings, where as of 1 p.m. ET, 78 percent of early tickets and 77 percent of early dollars are on the Warriors. The total was a quick riser today, from 215.5 to 220 by late morning, with 86 percent of bets and 68 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the spread (ATS) pick
All bets for this game hinge directly on the shoulders of one Steph Curry, who has been upgraded to probable (illness) for Tuesday's tilt.
The Warriors without Curry are like Thanos without the Infinity Stones, and getting him back will be a huge boost for their attack. Chef has been scoring at an absurdly efficient rate this season, the type of offensive threat the Knicks could struggle to keep up with.
Also, bad news for the Knicks is that Draymond Green is an elite cover against Julius Randle. While Green still looks a half-step slow from his All-World defense days, and may not yet be 100 percent, he's still a burly body that can move with Randle's drives and won't be outmuscled easily.
Golden State also will likely be getting both James Wiseman and Kevon Looney back, plugging the gaping hole in their center spot. Wiseman's wrist injury likely didn't affect his conditioning, so don't expect too much rust from him.
The trends in this matchup don't give the Warriors much love. The Knicks are the better current ATS team, while the Warriors have been pretty bad (5-9 SU) on the road.
But Golden State also has the chance to come into this game legitimately healthier than it's been all season. It has a far-from-easy stretch run (remaining games against the Knicks, Hornets, Pacers, Blazers, Suns and Lakers) and the next couple weeks will be crucial in determining whether or not the Dubs play-in for a postseason spot. This is gut-check time.
Sometimes, you just have to buck the trends. Golden State's ceiling is higher, and this feels like a game it will want to be sharp for.
PREDICTION: Golden State -2 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Knicks are basically a walking Under. They're an impressive 10-21 O/U, winning this season's triple crown of Under betting by scoring the fewest points, allowing the fewest points, and playing at the NBA's slowest pace.
Results wouldn't indicate an adjustment by the books either, as the Knicks are 7-3 to the Under in their last 10 games, even against fast-paced messes like the Timberwolves, Wizards and Bulls.
Curry has the juice to turn this into a shootout, but Tom Thibodeau isn't one to fight fire with fire, and it's tough to see the 'Bockers putting the punch together to top this number.
PREDICTION: Under 220 (-110)
Player prop pick
Julius Randle's enjoying a standout season for the Knicks, one that should have him squarely in the conversation for an East All-Star reserve spot. He's averaging career-highs in rebounds, assists and points, the latter of which is currently at 23.2 ppg.
The season-average is fairly indicative of Randle's current form, averaging 25 over his past 10 games, including an outlier against Atlanta in which he hit a career-high seven threes for 44 points.
It seems outlandish to assume that Randle will best his season average with Green in his grill all night (for what it's worth, he was 4-11 from the field versus GSW on Jan 22). He may be forced into more of a facilitator role if he isn't able to bulldoze his way to the basket or shake loose for open threes—both of which Green is capable of snuffing.
PREDICTION: Julius Randle Under 24.5 points (-105)
Warriors vs Knicks betting card
- Golden State -2 (-110)
- Under 220 (-110)
- Julius Randle Under 24.5 points (-105)
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