Tonight's matchup puts the New York Knicks on the second game of a road trip with the Denver Nuggets. New York mounted a significant victory Tuesday against Utah as head coach Tom Thibodeau could be on the hot seat if they don't start winning more games soon.
The Nuggets are looking to shoot their way to a victory without back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic, who is out for the first time this year in the health and safety protocol. With the Knicks still an up-and-down team on defense, look for Jamal Murray to carry the load.
Find out where the best betting value lies in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Knicks vs. Nuggets.
Knicks vs Nuggets best odds
Knicks vs Nuggets picks and predictions
The Denver Nuggets will have to find a way to win tonight without their big ticket in Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP is one of the most incredible talents in all of the NBA, and whenever he’s sidelined (which isn’t often), Denver is vulnerable to surrendering more points and rebounds.
Let’s look at the rebounding for a moment: Denver surrenders the third-fewest rebounds per game to opponents (49), but that’s largely due to Jokic and his dominance and presence in the paint. His backup DeAndre Jordan was once very solid on the boards but that’s simply not the case anymore.
This presents an opportunity for the New York Knicks to capitalize on, as the Nuggets will have to fill in the gaps without their franchise star. The Knicks average the third-most rebounds per game (47.7) and generally outrebound opponents on a nightly basis.
RJ Barrett ranks 11th in rebounding among shooting guards at 5.2 per game — that's who I'm targeting in this contest. Tonight figures to be an opportunity for him to hunt for rebounds as Denver has a lot of finesse players who don’t necessarily crash the boards.
The Nuggets are currently 16th in rebounding (44.2) across the NBA. When Barrett’s jump shot isn’t falling, he typically looks to impact the game in other ways. The young veteran has always been a good rebounder for his position and will look to hit the boards hard tonight.
My best bet: RJ Barrett Over 5.5 rebounds (+118)
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Knicks vs Nuggets spread analysis
The Knicks looked competent last night — defeating a tough Utah Jazz team — but I have yet to see them stack wins together. Just look at the numbers... for every good victory, they collapse badly in the next game.
The Knicks are a seesaw of a team that cannot be trusted, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. They handled the Minnesota Timberwolves and were run off the court by Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets by nearly 30 points. They battled and defeated Philadelphia, then turned around and lost by 15 to the Boston Celtics.
On the other hand, Denver will have a healthy test on its hands trying to navigate a win without Jokic. The Nuggets typically don't fare well without their MVP (2-6 SU last season), but the Knicks are also without their defensive stopper in Mitchell Robinson. This will surely open lanes and make life easier when attacking the paint.
Knicks vs Nuggets Over/Under analysis
With the Knicks coming into town right after their big victory in Utah, I don't expect them to have the energy to get into a shootout tonight. New York's three leading scorers in RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle all logged more than 30 minutes last night and it's hard to see them scoring a ton in this spot.
This brings me to Denver, which will be without Jokic and Bones Hyland tonight. The two key players combine for 34.8 points per night and while the Nuggets certainly have the firepower to pick up the slack, this is still their first time playing without Jokic this season, which could see them get off to a slow start.
I'm leaning toward the Under here as the Under is 4-0 in NY's last four road games. Denver may be without Jokic, but the Knicks don't have the interior scoring option needed to truly capitalize.
Knicks vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Under is 4-0 in New York's last four road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Nuggets.
Knicks vs Nuggets game info
| Location: | Ball Arena, Denver, CO |
| Date: | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG, Altitude |
