Knicks vs. Lakers NBA Odds, Preview and Prediction (Archive)
The New York Knicks will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on National Television, on ABC, at 8:30 PM EST Which team has the edge? Here is all you need to know for your NBA picks.
New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Saturday, February 5, 2022 – 8:30 PM EST at Crypto.com Arena
The New York Knicks are currently just 24-28 on the season and will now look to take on the Los Angeles Lakers. A lot of news has come out recently on both of these teams. It looks like Knicks’ star player, Julius Randle has requested a trade.
Meanwhile, LeBron James has leaked that he’d love to play with his son and that he would leave the Lakers to do that. James is currently not playing due to injury and many are now questioning Randle and his effort this season.
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So the drama continues in the NBA. What’s new! Anyway, the Knicks haven’t been great offensively this year. New York is scoring just 109.8 points per 100 possessions and shooting a 51.8 percent effective field goal percentage. Which way to lean at the top-rated sportsbooks?
This means that New York isn’t taking quality looks from the floor. Plus, the Knicks have also turned the ball over 14.3 percent of the time, which could also hurt their chances of winning this game, knowing the Lakers are earning 14.5 percent turnovers on the defensive end this season.
The Knicks should be able to earn offensive rebounds, gaining 27.3 percent on the season. New York might even get to the line at an above-average rate against the Lakers. Los Angeles is allowing 111.3 points per 100 possessions while giving up an effective field goal percentage of 53.1 percent.
Those are below average numbers, but against the Knicks, the Lakers figure to put up average numbers. On the other side of the ball, the Lakers are only scoring 109.5 points per 100 possessions.
Los Angeles is also shooting a 53.4 percent effective field goal percentage. But that’s the one area where the Knicks are solid defensively. They force teams to take bad shots and allow an effective field goal percentage of 51.9 percent this season.
The Knicks won’t force turnovers but they’ll be able to shut down the Lakers on the glass, holding opponents to just 25.6% offensive rebounds this season.
Prediction
It always seems like the Knicks come out to play on national television. The Lakers and Knicks have both lost four of their last five games and neither team is looking all that great right now. The Lakers have kept games close, but haven’t been able to close games out without LeBron James on the court.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have been in close games as well but are also falling short. The line is sitting at -1.5 for the Lakers and oddsmakers are suggesting this game will be another tight game.
For our best bets, I’ll side with the underdog. The Knicks always shine in these moments and it’s basically another one of Randle’s revenge games. Plus, if he really wants to get traded, he better put on a show on ABC.
NBA Pick: Knicks +1.5 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.