There are 13 games on the NBA betting slate today including a rivalry tilt between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. The Nets will once again be without Kyrie Irving as they try to win their eighth consecutive game between these cross-town franchises.
NBA odds anticipate a Brooklyn victory but don't expect it to be easy with the Nets installed as slim 3-point home favorites at Barclays Center. Here are my best free NBA picks and predictions for November 9.
Knicks vs Nets best odds
Knicks vs Nets picks and predictions
The Knicks made one of the smartest moves in free agency when they gave Jalen Brunson a four-year $104 million contract. The 26-year-old is thriving as the lead guard in the Big Apple and is averaging 19.7 points and 7.3 assists per game with just 1.7 turnovers.
Brunson has scored at least 20 points in each of his last four games and is averaging 22 over that span. With the Nets a Bottom-10 defensive team, I'm taking the Over 18.5 on his points total today.
I'm also expecting the Knicks to snap out of their recent head-to-head slump. Without Kyrie Irving and with a banged-up Ben Simmons (not that Simmons has been much help even when he is on the floor), Brooklyn has become a one-man team around Kevin Durant.
The Knicks have better depth, defend more effectively, and should have a significant edge on the boards. I'll back them on the moneyline at plus money.
My best bets: Jalen Brunson Over 18.5 points (-113 at FanDuel)
Knicks moneyline (+130 at bet365)
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Knicks vs Nets spread analysis
The Nets are back home after a three-game road trip that saw them go 2-1 straight up (2-0-1 against the spread) despite playing without Irving, who is serving an indefinite suspension. Cam Thomas has stepped up as Brooklyn's secondary scorer in Kyrie's absence but the Nets still haven't cracked the 100-point plateau in each of their last two games and are coming off a 96-94 loss to the Mavericks.
They were also without Simmons for four games in a row due to a knee sprain, but he returned to log 16 minutes against the Mavs on Monday. Even when healthy, Simmons has been a disappointment for the Nets, who expected him to improve their defense but have instead seen way too many fouls from the former All-Star.
The Nets are 22nd in the league in defensive rating (allowing 113.2 points per 100 possessions) and were even worse before Simmons hit the IL on October 30, posting a defensive rating of 121.6 through their first six games of the season.
The Knicks are 5-5 SU and ATS this season and are fresh off a 120-107 victory in Minnesota. They've been a bit better than Brooklyn on defense and rank 18th in the league in defensive rating (111.8).
Although they recently lost center Mitchell Robinson to a knee sprain, backup Isaiah Hartenstein was already earning a bigger role with the team after averaging 8.4 rebounds in just 25.5 minutes per game.
They should be able to control the glass against a Nets team that ranks dead-last in the league in rebounding rate.
Although New York doesn't have a go-to scorer on Durant's level, they have more scoring depth with Brunson, Julius Randle, and R.J. Barrett all averaging more than 19 ppg.
Knicks vs Nets Over/Under analysis
The total opened at 224 and initially dropped down to 222.5 before ticking back up to 224.5.
Brooklyn's offense has been extremely reliant on Durant and his 31 ppg but doesn't have much scoring punch around him with Irving out of the lineup. The Knicks have also been playing at the third-slowest pace in the league, which has resulted in them cashing the Under in five straight games despite poor defensive play.
The Knicks are a middle-of-the-pack team but their games have seen an average total of 230 points scored.
In a perfect example of what an average team looks like, the .500 Knicks are scoring 115 ppg while allowing an identical 115 ppg.
Knicks vs Nets betting trend to know
The Knicks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games while the Nets are 12-38-1 ATS in their previous 51 contests at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Nets.
Knicks vs Nets game info
| Location: | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY |
| Date: | Wednesday, November 9, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
