The Raptors returned home after a three-game road trip, while the Knicks are looking to snap the seven-game losing streak against Toronto. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors
Spread: Toronto Raptors -8 (-103) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 217 points (-102/-108)
The Knicks are hoping to snap the three-game losing streak at Air Canada Centre
The New York Knicks are playing surprisingly well this season, and it has to be said that they have been better without Carmelo Anthony. They are currently in the high 5th position in the Eastern Conference with the 8-6 record, but the away form is a problem as the Knicks have just one victory in four road games so far. New York bounced back after painful defeat to the Cleveland Cavs and won against Utah Jazz, 106:101, but will face a tough task to beat the Raptors in Toronto.
The Knicks won the final quarter against Utah by ten points, and that played a major part in a victory, while the solid percentage from the field (46.9%) also helped them is securing a W. Jeff Hornacek’s side exploited the fact that Rudy Gobert was out and dominated the boards (45-37), and committed only 11 turnovers, playing much better in the second half after trailing by ten in the opening half. Tim Hardaway led the Knicks with 26 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while KristapsPorzingis followed him with 22 points, eight boards, and two blocks. Courtney Lee displayed another solid performance as he ended the tilt with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Enes Kanter contributed with 13 points and four boards. The Latvian superstar Porzingis is undoubtedly a player to watch for the visitors in this encounter as he faces Serge Ibaka who is an excellent defender, so Kristaps will have to do a lot of work to score his usual 25-30 points. Hardaway Jr. has a favorable matchup with the rookie OG Anunoby, and I expect him to have another 20+ point game, the third in a row. Kanter’s duel with Jonas Valanciunas below the rims could be significant for the final outcome, but it’s clear that stopping DeRozan and Lowry will be New York’s primary goal here.
Jeff Hornacek is happy to have Joakim Noah back from suspension, and the Knicks waived MindaugasKuzminskas to clear space for Noah’s return. However, the coach stated that the French center would continue to be inactive until he regains full fitness, while the backup point guard Ron Baker is also inactive as Jarrett Jack, Frank Ntilikina, and Ramon Sessions have the advantage. The Knicks are scoring 106.00 points per contest on average (14th in the NBA), while they are allowing 104.64 points in return (12th in the NBA). New York is among the top five teams (4th) in the league when it comes to field goal percentage (47.78%), while the defense is at the top in limiting the opposition to just 39.93 rebounds per match.
Place: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Date/Time: Friday, November 17th, 2017, 7:30 PM ET
TV Coverage: SPORTSNET ONE, MSG
The Raptors are looking for the third straight victory
The Toronto Raptors are back home following a three-game road trip, and they won four out of the last five games, which is enough for the fourth position in the Eastern Conference with the 9-5 record. They responded well after a narrow defeat to the Boston Celtics with a vital victory over the Houston Rockets, and then the New Orleans Pelicans, 125:116. The Raptors are very efficient lately, and if they continue to play that way on Friday, the Knicks will find themselves in all kinds of trouble.
Toronto has a magnificent 59.2% from the field and hit 16 three-pointers on 34 attempts (47.1%), so it is not strange they scored a whopping 125 points against New Orleans. The only thing that left the Pelicans alive is the fact that the Raptors committed 21 turnovers, but that didn’t save them in the end. DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while Kyle Lowry was right behind him at the box chart with a near triple-double performance of 22 points, 11 boards, and nine dimes. Lowry hasn’t been great offensively thus far in the campaign, but this was his fifth double-double, and he must be considered as a player to watch in a favorable matchup with Jarrett Jack. Jonas Valanciunas matched his season-high 21 points, along with five rebounds, C.J. Miles contributed with 17 points off the bench, while Serge Ibaka added 12 points and four boards. DeRozan and Lowry should run the floor for the hosts and combine for around 50 points on this one, which could be enough for a victory if other players such as Miles, Valanciunas, and Ibaka support them. Ibaka will have a lot to do on the defensive end as he will guard Porzingis, but the Lithuanian center Valanciunas could have a big night in a duel with Kanter.
Dwane Casey cannot count on Norman Powell who missed the last two matches with a hip injury so that OG Anunoby will get another start at the small forward spot. Delon Wright dislocated his right shoulder against the Pelicans, and he is facing a long time on the sidelines so Fred VanVleet will benefit from Wright’s injury as a backup point guard to Lowry. The Raptors are scoring 111.36 points per contest on average (2nd in the NBA), while they are allowing 105.86 points in return (16th in the NBA). Toronto is among the top five teams (3rd) in the league when it comes to field goal percentage (48.15%), while the defense is in the 7th place in the association in allowing 41.64 rebounds to the rivals.
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors Trends & Prediction
The Knicks are 9-5 against the spread (1-3 away), while they are 7-7 on over/under (0-4 away), and given that Toronto scored a bunch of points in the previous two outings, this one could finally go OVER. I am not sure about the spread; the Raptors are the favorites, but New York could be a quite resistant.
The Raptors are 8-6 against the spread (2-3 home), while they are 8-6 on over/under (4-1 home), so that suggests this clash could produce plenty of baskets, and I am definitely going with OVER here. The brave ones could opt for a spread on Toronto, but I will avoid that this time around.
My Pick: Pass
Total: Over 217 points (-102)
