The Knicks finish their road trip by visiting the Nuggets for a game on Thursday night. New York (41-27 SU, 35-30-5 ATS) won Monday, 119-112, at Golden State as a +6.5 underdog. Denver (48-21, 31-37-1 ATS) earned a 115-112 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday as a -7.5 favorite. These two will tip off for this match at 9:10 a.m. EST from the Ball Arena in Denver.
New York warriors on the road
This game marks the end of a successful four-game road trip for the Knicks, who have won all three games thus far. On a four-game winning streak, New York has averaged 107 points per game during that stretch and sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They are averaging 112 points per game for the season and shooting 46.1% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc. The Knicks are making 13 threes and 17.4 free throws per night and their 45.9 rebounds per night are fifth-best in the NBA. Jalen Brunson is fifth in the league with 27.9 points per game on 47.8% shooting. Over his last three games, the Knicks guard averaged 40.3 points and shot 58.9%.
On the defensive side, New York is second in the league, allowing just 107.9 points per game on the year and over their last four games, they have allowed just 93.8 per game. They average 7.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game and their opponents are shooting 46.7% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range against them this season. Teams also average 12.7 three-pointers and 14.9 free throws per game against the Knicks. New York coughs up 12.4 turnovers per game and its assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.78 ranks 25th.th generally. Julius Randlewho missed all of February with a dislocated right shoulder, remains sidelined with no timetable set for his return.
Denver seeks to make its point
The Nuggets return home after a 3-1 SU road trip, and they are 6-1 SU over their last seven games while sitting just a few percentage points out of first place in the Western Conference. Over their last five games, their offense has averaged 112.4 points and this season they have scored 114.7 per game, 15th in the NBA. They’re shooting 49.6 percent from the field, fourth best in the league, and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc and they’re averaging 11.5 threes and 15.2 free throws each night. With 44.1 rebounds per game, Denver ranks 10thth in the league and they have a rebound differential of +1.8. Nikola Jokic is fourth in the league with 12.3 rebounds and nine assists, and 14th with 26 points per game this season. The Nuggets center averaged 10.2 field goals per game, fourth overall.
Denver’s defense allows 110.2 points per game on the year, the seventh-best mark in the league. The teams are shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range against them, with 11.2 threes made and 17.3 free throws made per game as well. The Nuggets defense also contributes seven steals and 5.5 blocks per game. They lose just 11.8 turnovers per game, fifth in the NBA, and their assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.32 is the best in the league. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is 12th in the NBA with 1.4 steals per game this season.
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Best bets for this game
Full Game Side Bet
Insider Status:
Rating:
These two met towards the end of January, with the Knicks taking a 38-point victory on their home court as +2.5 underdogs. While the Knicks have had a flawless road trip so far, they had already led SU 2-1 in their previous three games, so they are rolling right now. Their defense was particularly solid and that’s where they were able to go against the Nuggets in their first meeting. The 84 points Denver scored against New York was their lowest offensive output of the season as they shot just 40.5% in the game. It would be ignorant to think those numbers will repeat themselves, but it’s also ignorant to think the Knicks don’t have a very solid game plan against the Nuggets’ offense. New York is 5-0 SU and 4-0-1 ATS in their last five road games. They are also 3-0 ATS in their last three games against Denver.
Take the Knicks to score points.
Prediction: New York +8.5
Total choice of the complete game
Insider Status:
Rating:
The first meeting between these two this season totaled 206 points, making a total of 223 points. Between the two teams, there have been 85 games that have scored the lowest this season. DunksandThrees.com has the Knicks last in the league in pace and the Nuggets 27th, making it one of the slowest paced games on the schedule this season. In their last six games, New York has scored 98 points or less three times and more than 106 points just once. On the defensive end, they’ve held five teams during that stretch to 93 points or fewer. In their last four games, Denver has scored 105 points or fewer twice, scoring 100 against a Miami defense that ranks fourth in the NBA. The last three games between these two teams have hit the bottom.
Take the bottom.
Prediction: Under 210.5
