The New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards are back in action tonight after a lengthy All-Star break. It’s all gas and no brakes from here on out as both teams will look to solidify their playoff standings with a little over a month left in the regular season.
Tonight, look for Jalen Brunson to stay consistent and lead the offensive efforts against a Washington Wizards team that cannot be overlooked with the likes of Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Find out your best options with our free NBA betting picks for Knicks vs. Wizards on Friday, February 24.
Knicks vs Wizards best odds
Knicks vs Wizards picks and predictions
I'm ready to admit that the emergence of Jalen Brunson has been one of the most unbelievable revelations of the NBA season. Nobody has ever questioned his ability as a quality basketball player, but he's taken his game to an entirely different level. Somewhere in Dallas, Mark Cuban has to be thinking about how he let Brunson slip through his hands.
The recent stretch of basketball for Brunson has been really unbelievable of late, averaging 31.5 points over his last 10 games. Tonight, he has a 26.5 point line, which would have been ridiculous at the beginning of the season. But as of today, that number makes a lot of sense.
Brunson has elevated his game since he was snubbed from the All-Star reserves, scorching anyone in his way. Tonight against the Wizards could be another box office performance for the Knicks point guard, as he has already dominated them with his scoring ability twice this season, scoring over 30 points in both games.
He figures to get a lot of defensive attention from Monte Morris tonight. The 27-year-old guard has a 116.9 defensive rating, and alongside Bradley Beal (questionable), is going to have a mighty task of slowing down Brunson, who is playing out of his mind lately.
The Knicks don't have a lot of reliable scoring options on the team. RJ Barrett averages 19.7 points per game, but he's one of the most inconsistent players in the NBA. Even Julius Randle, at times, can be a little hot and cold offensively. Brunson is the surest thing on this roster, and they'll ride him, hoping to secure a playoff spot.
I'm banking on Brunson to do what he's done against the Wizards all season: take smart shots, stay aggressive, and beat their guards off the dribble over and over again.
My best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-120)
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Knicks vs Wizards spread analysis
The line for tonight opened at -2.5 in favor of Washington and has since been available between -1.5 and -2 in favor of the Knicks at most sportsbooks.
One thing to monitor is the availability of Beal, who will be a game-time decision tonight. Beal, while not having his best overall season, still possesses the ability to beat you on any given night. New York held him in check in their January game, but he still is dangerous when his shots are falling.
Both the Wizards and Knicks will be aiming to avoid the play-in tournament by any means, which would mean securing a Top 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. In two matchups this season, the teams have split the games and both secured one ATS victory.
As mentioned earlier, the Knicks will ride the Brunson hot hand as he shouldn't face much trouble getting to his spots and scoring. While Washington didn't have any All-Stars, they have several dangerous players who can cause a ton of issues for the Knicks' defense.
This game will be very close, and while the Knicks currently have a four-game advantage over the Wizards, they are pretty much on par as far as talent on the roster. Randle hasn't missed a game this season, which has helped the Knicks stay the course and win games.
The magic number tonight is 112.3, which is the amount the Knicks give up per night. Washington has a 22-11 record against the spread and a 21-12 record overall when putting up more than 112 points.
Knicks vs Wizards Over/Under analysis
The Over/Under for tonight has settled between 225 and 225.5 on sportsbooks. This number feels good, but with both teams possessing a few solid scoring options, there’s always a healthy threat that this game could hit the Over.
The first matchup between Washington and New York resulted in a push, with the second resulting in the Under by four points. Currently, New York surrenders the ninth-fewest points per game (112.3). The Wizards score the 18th-most points per game (113.6), which gives an advantage to the Knicks and the Under argument.
There were no Wizards in the All-Star Game, and the Knicks only had Randle as their lone All-Star. Given the extended time off, it will be interesting to monitor how the teams perform tonight. I might give a slight edge to the Under tonight, banking on the fact that the Knicks ideally have to play tough defense to win games.
Knicks vs Wizards betting trend to know
Under is 3-0-1 in Knicks' last four vs. a team with a losing straight-up record. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Wizards.
Knicks vs Wizards game info
| Location: | Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. |
| Date: | Friday, February 24, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG Sports Network, NBC Sports Washington |
