New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Suns play host to the Knicks in a non-conference matchup between a couple of teams that have hit the skids as of late.
The Knicks had won three in a row before losing three of their last four games. The team is 5-5 in their last 10 games, three games over .500 (13-10), and sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference five games out of first place.
The Suns have also lost three of their last four games and in their last seven games, they only have two wins. While they have fallen to the 10th spot in the Western Conference, they are still only 5.5 games out of first place. Phoenix comes into this game as a 5-point favorite with the total sitting at 230.5.
Not Quite the Same Scoring
After putting up a season-high 136 points in a win the scoring was not quite the same for the Knicks in their last game in a 117-113 road loss to the Utah Jazz. While New York played pretty good defense holding the Jazz to 43.9% shooting and 38.1% 3-pt shooting they only shot 43.6% and 23.1% from deep. Julius Randle had a double-double with 32 points and 12 rebounds and while Jalen Brunson had 23 points, he was only 6-19 from the floor and missed all six of his 3-pointers. New York failed to cover the spread as a 6-point favorite and has not covered in three of their last four games.
On the season the Knicks rank 18th in the league in ppg and sixth in opponents’ ppg. Brunson (24.6 ppg) leads the team in scoring, has not reached his season average in the last five games, and in the three losses in the last four games, he is 0-16 from 3-point land. Randle (22.4 ppg 9.7 rpg) has scored at least 32 points in three of the last four games including the last two. Leading rebounder Mitchell Robinson (6.2 ppg 10.3 rpg) was recently lost for a couple of months with an ankle injury. On the season New York is 6-7 on the road and the three losses in their last four games have all been away from the Big Apple.
Spoiling the Debut
In their last game, the Suns were at home and lost to the Brooklyn Nets 116-112 spoiling the debut of the three stars Kevin Durant,Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, who played in their first game together. Phoenix lost despite shooting a better overall FG% (47.6% to 46.1%) and free throw percentage (85.2% to 79.2%) but did not shoot as well from 3-point land (32.1% to 36.6%). Booker led the team with 34 points and also had 12 assists, Durant had 27 points, and Jusuf Nurkic was a monster on the glass with 22 rebounds to go along with 15 points. The Suns failed to cover as a 4.5-point favorite and they are only 1-6 ATS in their last seven games.
On the season the Suns rank 12th in the league in ppg and 13th in opponents’ ppg. Durant (30.8 ppg) ranks fifth in the league in scoring, missed the game before the last one with an ankle injury, and has shot at least 50% from the floor in the last three games. Booker (28.1 ppg) has shot the rock well in the last three games and the last two games has 66 points and 19 assists. Beal (16.4 ppg) has only played in five games this season and has totaled 30 points in the last two games after missing a month. The Suns are 6-7 at home this season.
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Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
Both teams have struggled as of late each losing three of their last four games. The Suns finally got their big 3 on the court in their last game but they lost and it may take a while for them to gel. New York is coming off a loss to the Jazz, who are seven games Under .500. Brunson has been ice cold from deep as of late and the three losses in New York’s last four games have all been on the road. I look for the Suns to come out firing in this game and their stars will get it done. I do not see the Knicks getting blown out but the Suns will get the W and also cover the spread.
Take the Suns -5.
Prediction: Suns -5
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
The total has gone Over for the Knicks last six games and that is the pick I am leaning towards in this non-conference affair. The Knicks only put up 113 points in their last game but went for a season high 136 points in their previous three games. Speaking of their previous three games they gave up an average of 136.3 ppg in that span. The Suns have not been scoring big as of late but they finally have their three stars in the lineup and I look for them to score big in this game. New York gave up 117 points in their last game facing a Utah team that ranks 23rd in the league in scoring. This game will be a more high-scoring affair, which is why the Over is the pick.
Take the Over 230.5.
Prediction: Over 230.5
Jason digs every sport, but the NFL is his favorite. His team is the Washington Football Team and his 2nd favorite is whoever is playing the Cowboys! Jason is a strong handicapper, who graced us with his talents here at Stat Salt. He doesn't don't just write about sports, but he also is an avid sports bettor. Jason has done very well at that and it would be a good idea to follow his picks.
