The Toronto Raptors host the New York Knicks with both teams on the outside looking into the playoff picture. Both teams are 4-6 in their last 10 games and sit 11th and 12th, respectively, in the Eastern Conference, with a win for either a potentially big swing down the line.
Find out if The North can shake its home ATS woes as we preview this matchup with our NBA picks and predictions for Knicks vs. Raptors on December 10.
Knicks vs Raptors odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
This line opened late Thursday night at Raptors -1.5 after a COVID-19 outbreak struck the Raptors organization and they canceled practice. It has yet to budge at most books. Likewise, the total has remained static at 209.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Knicks vs Raptors predictions
Predictions made on 12/10/2021 at 9:35 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Knicks vs Raptors game info
• Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
• Date: Friday, December 10, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: MSG, TSN
Knicks vs Raptors betting preview
Injuries
Knicks: Nerlens Noel C (Probable), Kemba Walker PG (Out).
Raptors: OG Anunoby SF (Out), Khem Birch C (Out), Goran Dragic PG (Out), Precious Achiuwa C (Questionable), Justin Champagnie SF (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Raptors are 3-10 ATS at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Raptors.
Knicks vs Raptors picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Off the top: this game isn't a great one to handicap, as the Knicks and Raptors have been two of the NBA's most inconsistent teams this season.
The Raptors began their season with a few weeks of spirited defense, and have since seen their efforts nose-dive off the nearest cliff. Meanwhile, the Knicks have oscillated between gutsy performances and utter duds. It's tough to trust either of these teams.
But it's probably tougher to trust the Raptors, who are already missing their leading scorer and arguably best two-way player in OG Anunoby. They'll also be without both of their rotation centers (Khem Birch and Precious Achiuwa), and have a non-zero chance of other players falling into the league's health and safety protocols after yesterday's COVID uncertainty and diagnosis of team president Masai Ujiri.
The Raps being short-handed in this matchup doesn't leave them a ton of wiggle room, even against an up-and-down team like the Knicks. New York's main downfall this season has been its regression on defense, particularly defending the 3-pointer. Toronto shoots threes at the NBA's sixth-lowest frequency and only hits them at a below-average rate, which isn't a great start with Anunoby sitting.
Furthermore, the Raptors sport the NBA's 26th-ranked defense over their past 15 games, suggesting the type of up-and-down execution you'd expect on that end from a roster with so many young players and little continuity together. New York also turns the ball over at a Top-10 rate, meaning they won't cough up as many of the easy transition opportunities the Raptors thrive on.
Home court advantage shouldn't be a thing in this game, as Toronto is just 4-9 SU at home and an NBA-worst 3-10 ATS. Conversely, the Knicks are 7-5 both SU and ATS on the road, and should feel a lot more urgency to win here than a semi-rebuilding Raptors team that lost to freaking OKC in its last game.
Prediction: New York +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
These two teams will force us to take a long, hard look at the Under, but ultimately, this total is just too low for two below-average defensive teams.
Yes, both play at a snail's pace and it will be tough for the Raptors to get out in transition as much as they would like, but both teams should be able to find enough holes in the opposition's defense to push this over such a meager total as 209.5.
The Raptors are 5-2 to the Over in their last seven against teams with losing records, and the Knicks have hit the Over in five straight games, clearing this total in each of them.
Prediction: Over 209.5 (-110)
Best bet
We just can't support the Raptors in this spot, and don't understand why they're being favored on a home court where they've played very poorly, on the whole, this season.
The Raps are too injured right now, probably have the lower ceiling as a roster, and have that big 3-10 ATS home record to shrug, which, given their ailments, we just don't see happening tonight.
Getting the Knicks at even moneyline odds seems like a very fair bet for this matchup.
Pick: New York ML (+100)
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