LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will be hosting Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks tonight as we analyze the NBA odds to determine the best bet from this marquee matchup.
The Knicks have already played one game on this West Coast trip at Crypto.com Arena, and it didn't go well for them as they lost to the Los Angeles Clippers by 20 points. Jalen Brunson wasn't able to recreate the shooting clinic in Los Angeles that we saw from him against the Phoenix Suns when he dropped 50 points with a 9-for-9 shooting performance from beyond the arc.
The Knicks aren't the only team coming off a disappointing loss in this matchup. The Lakers just helped Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs snap their 18-game losing streak, as the Lakers lost on the road against the Spurs by 15 points.
With the Knicks and Lakers both looking to bounce back from disappointing losses, find out why I'm betting on a Jalen Brunson player prop and more in our free NBA picks for Knicks vs. Lakers on Monday, December 18.
Knicks vs Lakers odds
Knicks vs Lakers predictions
It wouldn't be the NBA without injury news wreaking havoc on how you go about betting on a specific game, and that will be the theme here with our handicap for the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks. While the Knicks are healthy outside of Mitchell Robinson, it's the questionable tag on Anthony Davis, who missed the previous game against the Spurs, that we're focused on tonight.
We've seen a ton of movement in the total, as it has jumped from 226.5 to 235. To me, this is a sign that Davis is in serious jeopardy of missing this game. Without Davis anchoring the Lakers defense on the interior, we should see more scoring, and that is why the total is increasing.
If Davis is out, it will open up the Knicks' ability to score points in the paint, and they have the roster that can capitalize. Think about this: Zach Collins scored 16 points in 18 minutes against the Lakers when Davis missed that game against the Spurs.
I'm going to capitalize on this by attacking Jalen Brunson's assists prop. Not only should he be able to convert more potential assists into actual dimes without Davis protecting the rim, but he also has a matchup that could lead to him passing more frequently.
Brunson should be guarded by 6-foot-7 Cam Reddish, who, with his length, should be able to bother the guard's jump shot, leading to more creation of offense than scoring. Brunson is projected to have 6.8 assists, which doesn't seem great when you consider that the total is 6.5, but it's the juice that is the key here. With this projection, we can price Brunson at -107 to go Over the total of 6.5, but it is available at bet365 for +120.
My best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists (+120 at bet365)
Knicks vs Lakers same-game parlay
Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists
Donte DiVincenzo Over 1.5 made threes
Josh Hart Over 7.5 points
Brunson Over 6.5 assists is our best bet, so how is he going to get to this number? Well, he's going to need one of his three-point shooters to make shots, and that's how Donte DiVincenzo made his way into this parlay. You could also look at Julius Randle, but if the Lakers are without Davis, he might look to take the ball to the rim instead of shooting the three. That's why I'm rolling with DiVincenzo, who is specifically in the game to space the floor with his shooting.
The other sneaky correlation to our Brunson assist prop is Josh Hart going Over his points total. Hart isn't someone who will take you off the dribble and create his own shot at the rim, but he is excellent at reacting to someone else's drive to make the proper cut. If Davis isn't protecting the rim, Hart will have a much easier time finishing layups.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Knicks vs Lakers spread and Over/Under analysis
The Lakers opened as a 4.5-point favorite over the Knicks, but we have seen a little love for New York in the market as the line has moved down to L.A. -4. If you're looking to back the Knicks, BetMGM is one of the few sportsbooks still trading them at +4.5.
The game total has seen a ton of movement at DraftKings and several other sportsbooks. DraftKings originally posted the line at 226.5, and we have seen it climb all the way to 235.
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Knicks vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Los Angeles Lakers have hit the Moneyline in 55 of their last 93 games (+19.45 Units / 12% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Lakers.
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Knicks vs Lakers game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Monday, December 18, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG, Spectrum SportsNet |
Knicks vs Lakers latest injuries
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