It’s a Big Apple Battle between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets tonight.
Brooklyn is back home in the Barclays Centers after a rotten road trip out West but finds rival New York waiting as a big road favorite. New York is poised to beat up on their NYC nemesis, and my Knicks vs Nets predictions like forward Mikal Bridges to play big on the boards against his former club.
Here are my NBA picks for Tuesday, January 21 with tip set for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
Knicks vs Nets prediction
My best bet
Mikal Bridges Over 2.5 rebounds (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA and depending on D’Angelo Russell’s status (currently questionable), they could be even worse tonight.
Brooklyn limps back home after a rough road trip, posting a 1-5 straight-up record against a series of Western Conference foes. The Nets shot a collective 43% from the floor during that non-conference swing, including worse than 33% from beyond the arc.
Things aren’t much sunnier inside the Barclays Center. Brooklyn is connecting on just 45% of its field-goal attempts at home and sits dead last in average rebounds per homestand at 46.6, manifesting in a rebound rate of just 47.3% (second-lowest for home teams).
Unfortunately for the Nets, the stands will be filled with plenty of blue and orange, as New York Knicks fans routinely take over the Barclays Center for these inter-city showdowns.
New York is among the better teams at crashing the glass and touts the sixth-highest rebound rate in the NBA (51.4%). It’s an all-around effort on the glass, with forwards and guards hauling in those misses.
Mikal Bridges averages more than three rebounds an outing and makes his first return to the Barclays Center as a member of the Knicks after being traded from Brooklyn to New York in the offseason.
Bridges faced the Nets twice at Madison Square Garden earlier in the season, hauling down five and six rebounds, respectively, in those outings. He logged 41 and 45 minutes in those matchups, with the Knicks giving him extra run against his former club (averages 38.7 minutes per game).
Player projections for Bridges range from 3.6 rebounds to as many as 4.7, with those forecasts all coming in well above the 2.5-rebound total in the NBA player props odds. My number comes out to 3.9 boards, which should have the Over 2.5 rebounds priced closer to -236, but you can find that same bet at -110 at bet365.
Knicks vs Nets same-game parlay
Mikal Bridges 3+ Rebounds
Jalen Brunson 25+ Points
Knicks -11.5
Bridges pulled down five and six rebounds in his first two meetings with the Nets and projections call for four or more boards tonight.
Brunson’s forecast for at least 25 points against one of the worst teams in the NBA. He dropped 37 on Brooklyn earlier this season.
There is no home-court edge for the Nets when the Knicks are in town. New York blasted Brooklyn in their first two meetings of the year.
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Knicks vs Nets odds
Knicks vs Nets live odds
Knicks vs Nets opening odds
- Spread: New York -10 (-110) | Brooklyn +10 (-110)
- Moneyline: New York -550 | Brooklyn +400
- Over/Under: Over 222 (-110) | Under 222 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Knicks vs Nets spread and Over/Under analysis
- New York opened as a 10-point favorite and has climbed to -11.5.
- The Nets could be down D’Angelo Russel and are already missing starters Cam Thomas, and Ziaire Williams. Ben Simmons is trending toward playing as he recovers from an illness.
- The Over/Under hit the board at 222 points and has slipped to as low as 220.
- The Nets and Knicks played Under a closing total of 222 points in their most recent matchup on November 17.
- Covers Consensus shows 60% of spread picks laying the big spread with the Knicks on the road while 65% of total picks are taking the Over.
Knicks vs Nets trend
The Knicks are 6-0 SU and 3-2-1 ATS against the Nets over the past two seasons, with those games producing a 2-4 O/U record. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Nets.
How to watch Knicks vs Nets
| Location | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY |
| Date | Tuesday, 1-21-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
Knicks vs Nets latest injuries
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