The upstart New York Knicks continue to exceed expectations in 2022-23, and they'll look to strengthen their hold on a playoff spot while hosting the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Julius Randle’s monster performance against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday extended the Knicks’ latest win streak to three games, and they’ve won seven of their last 10. Detroit had no answers for Randle, who finished with 42 points and 15 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Raptors remain on the fringe of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Toronto never recovered from an ice-cold start against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, losing 114-103 and shooting 24% from deep to give the front office more to ponder ahead of the trade deadline.
Check out our free Raptors vs. Knicks free NBA predictions and the lowdown on this afternoon’s matchup.
Raptors vs Knicks best odds
Raptors vs Knicks picks and predictions
Randle’s time in the Big Apple has been a classic roller-coaster of emotions. He produced a spectacular start, but not long ago his big contract seemed like a disaster for the New York Knicks. He’s back in a groove this season while benefitting from Jalen Brunson’s arrival to run the offense, and Randle is playing like an All-Star.
His efficiency is up – he went 15-for-24 shooting against the Detroit Pistons – and he’s owning the glass even when playing alongside Mitchell Robinson. Randle is still searching for consistency from deep, but he's been willing to take 3-pointers in bunches.
The veteran has been a force in the paint with 16 double-doubles over his last 17 games. I expect him to add to that tally on Monday against a Toronto Raptors team packed with wings but light on traditional power forwards and centers. He should overpower Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes in the post.
The 28-year-old has been giving the Raptors fits this season over two prior meetings. He notched a 32-point, 11-rebound line back on Jan. 6, with the Knicks winning at Scotiabank Arena. And he put up 30 points and 13 rebounds during their late-December clash.
The NBA odds for his points total is a good Julius Randle prop option. But I’m leaning toward pairing points and rebounds for a little extra safety net. Randle has tallied 15-plus rebounds over his last four games, and he should approach that number again here.
My best bet: Julius Randle Over 36.5 points + rebounds (-125 at PointsBet)
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Raptors vs Knicks spread analysis
The Knicks enter this mid-afternoon clash as slight favorites, but the line would likely be higher than -2.5 if New York wasn’t dealing with such a quick turnaround after playing Detroit on Sunday.
While MSG hasn’t been a fortress for the Knicks in 2022-23 (they’re 11-11 at home), New York is the easier team to trust in this matchup. You know what you’re getting with Tom Thibodeau’s men, and the one-two punch of Randle and Brunson has been a consistent threat.
The Raptors can be a formidable opponent when everything clicks. But slow starts and poor shooting have been hampering them, with even Siakam enduring a rough night against the Hawks. Toronto has already won at MSG in 2022-23, but they needed a 52-point masterpiece from Siakam. The visitors are 1-5 against the spread across their last six contests against a team with a winning record and 4-9 ATS in their previous 13 road games.
Some of Toronto’s woes stem from Fred VanVleet’s shooting slump. He’s down to 37% from the field this campaign while battling through injuries. VanVleet is questionable for this afternoon and the Raptors may choose to rest him, with Siakam and Barnes capable of absorbing more ball-handling duties.
Raptors vs Knicks Over/Under analysis
Afternoon games can be a different beast, but there’s enough firepower to make the Over an attractive bet. It’s 6-1 across the Knicks’ last seven home games against a team with a losing road record. The Over also narrowly hit during both of the prior meetings between these clubs in 2022-23.
New York's offense also enjoys the luxury of R.J. Barrett as a third option, and he really hums while frequently showing up as a 20-point scorer. The hosts may lean more on Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to provide a spark during the second game of a back-to-back set.
Nick Nurse’s squad should be the fresher team after an off day on Sunday. That may mean a faster start at MSG than during Saturday’s sloppy first quarter when Toronto fell into an early 20-3 hole against Atlanta.
Raptors vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Raptors’ scrambling defense can get exposed against playoff contenders like the Knicks. The Over is 5-1 in Toronto’s last six games against a team with a winning record. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Knicks.
Raptors vs Knicks game info
| Location: | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date: | Monday, January 16, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TSN, MSG |
Raptors vs Knicks key injuries
