Leading off Sunday's seven-game NBA slate is an Eastern Conference matchup between the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors finally appear to be on the other side of their COVID-filled injury reports. Assuming Scottie Barnes (probable) suits up, the Raptors will have their entire core back for the first time in weeks.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are dealing with injury issues of their own. New York will be without Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Nerlens Noel, all COVID related, as well as Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose due to injury, leaving them extremely short-handed for their contest north of the border.
Can the Raptors take advantage of a limited Knicks team and secure the victory at home or will the Knicks' backups do enough to hang around? Find out in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Knicks vs. Raptors on January 2.
Knicks vs Raptors odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Raptors opened as 8-point favorites, fell down to 6.5-point favorites, but has been bet back up to -8. The total opened at 210.5 and has come all the way down to 207.
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 01/02/2022 at 1:00 p.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: Sunday, January 2, 2022
• Tip-off: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: MSG, TSN
Knicks vs Raptors betting preview
Injuries
Knicks: Julius Randle F (Out), Kemba Walker G (Out), Evan Fournier G (Questionable), Mitchell Robinson C (Out), Derrick Rose G (Out), Nerlens Noel C (Out), Danuel House Jr. (Out).
Raptors: Scottie Barnes F (Probable), Goran Dragic G (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Knicks are 0-9 ATS in their last nine meetings in Toronto. 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
With two postponed games and a 45-point blowout loss in the rearview mirror, it appears the Raptors will have their entire core back tonight, with Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., and Scottie Barnes all expected to suit up.
They took down the injury-riddled Clippers two nights ago by eight, and are in a similar spot tonight against a banged-up Knicks squad.
The Knicks are playing the final game of a four-game road trip, got blown out in Oklahoma City two nights ago, and enter this contest missing five top players, not including Evan Fournier, who is questionable with an ankle injury.
Those five players make up most of the normal starting line-up and combine for nearly 50 points per game. Without them, the Knicks have to lean on R.J. Barrett, Alec Burks, and Immanuel Quickley for offense. Though they can be fun and streaky at times, they're far from consistent enough to carry a huge load for an entire game, as seen by the 80 points the Knicks scored against OKC two nights ago (the trio combined for 46 of them).
Prior to the Knicks' three-game holiday win streak, New York had lost six of eight (2-6 ATS in those games) with the only two wins in that stretch coming against Detroit and Houston.
On the flip side, the Raptors should be energized to have their full team back on the court, and despite some early-season struggles and a battle with COVID, are only three games back of the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. I expect them to take care of business at home in this spot.
Even when healthy, the Knicks have been a great team to fade during their recent slump. Put them on the tail end of a road trip and take away Randle and other core pieces, and this becomes a no-brainer.
Prediction: Raptors -8 (-115)
Over/Under analysis
The total in this game opened at 210.5 at most shops and has taken a dive down to 206.5, and for good reason.
We'll start with the Knicks, who rank 22nd in offensive rating on the season. Take away the 50+ points worth of offense on their injury report and you have a team that could really struggle to reach 90-95 points. Look no further than their 80-point performance two nights ago.
New York is 15-21 O/U this season and the Under is 4-0 in their last four. On average, those four games finished 28.6 points below the game's closing total.
The Under is 0-6 in the Raptors' last six but this prediction is more a fade of the Knicks' injuries than anything else. It's only a lean but I'm rolling with the Under in this game.
Prediction: Under 206.5 (-110)
Best bet
I like the Raptors to cover as my best bet in this game. They're at home, they should have their entire core back, and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. On top of that, they're 9-0 ATS in their last nine home meetings against New York and 9-4 in the last 13 meetings overall.
The Knicks are playing the fourth and final game of a road trip, are missing Randle, Robinson, Walker, Rose, Noel, and potentially others, and are coming off a 15-point loss to a bad OKC Thunder team.
This is a really tough spot for the Knicks and I expect Toronto to take advantage.
Pick: Raptors -8 (-115)
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