The New York Knicks return home after winning three out of five games on their latest Western Conference road trip. The Knicks, who desperately needed to avoid falling flat on their faces, saved the season from an early crisis and kept hope alive.
Conversely, the Portland Trail Blazers are adjusting to life without Damian Lillard after a hot start. They've now lost four straight games and will be looking to find some momentum on the road.
Find out the best options with our free NBA picks and predictions for the Trail Blazers vs. Knicks on Friday, November 25.
Trail Blazers vs Knicks best odds
Trail Blazers vs Knicks picks and predictions
Anytime the Knicks are a favorite, I proceed with caution. Why? The Knicks aren't that good and are as up and down as any team in the NBA, with maddeningly inconsistent results
On the season, New York is racking in 46.2 rebounds per game — the third-best mark in the entire NBA. One of the main reasons for the Knicks' success on the boards is the improved effort of Julius Randle on a nightly basis. Randle has grabbed doubled-digit rebounds in two out of the last three Knick victories. For the season, he's averaging 8.8 rebounds per game. Randle continues to learn that the team responds better when he leads with energy on the glass.
Portland, without Lillard, will likely not be able to break down the Knicks' defense as easily. The Knicks can force the Blazers into lots of high-variance 3-point looks (they lead the league in opponent three attempts per game), which the Blazers will likely convert at a worse rate with their best shooter sidelined.
The Knicks are finally home after a tough road trip. They will be rejuvenated and come out with a strong effort. Randle should cover his rebound total here.
My best bet: Julius Randle Over 8.5 rebounds (+102)
Looking to do some NBA betting? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $200 in free bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2022.
Trail Blazers vs Knicks spread analysis
Beyond the rebounding, where the Knicks have a significant advantage, most of their wins and losses come down to whether their frustratingly streaky core players show up. Sure, Jalen Brunson and Randle are typically going to produce on most nights. The same can't be said for players such as RJ Barrett.
After receiving a lucrative contract extension this summer, Barrett has been a massive disappointment to start the season, and it's fair to state his poor play had held them back on more nights than not. On the season, when Barrett shoots better than 50% from the field, the Knicks are an impressive 4-2. The Trail Blazers don't have a formidable defensive backcourt and are undersized. This is an excellent opportunity for Barrett to capitalize and stack two good games together.
The Trail Blazers won’t lie tonight, as they'll put the ball in Anfernee Simons’ hands and look for him to snatch a win in New York. It's hard to say precisely how this one will go, but the overarching theme for me is how Barrett will play. If he can punish Portland’s backcourt, the Knicks should put themselves in decent position.
Trail Blazers vs Knicks Over/Under analysis
Tonight, I'm zeroing in on the Under. The Knicks are 9-9 O/U on the season, with the Under being the outcome in four of the last five games. The Knicks got off to a strong start in the scoring department, but that has proven to be an early-season fluke. The Knicks are a middle-of-the-pack offense that deals with too many streaky players to be sold on completely.
Portland, 6-11-1 O/U, similarly doesn't score many points and has a league-average offensive rating of 111.5. With Lillard out of the lineup, it puts a cap on what the Trail Blazers can do from an offensive standpoint. After all, trying to replace 26.3 points per game in a lineup is difficult.
Ultimately, the teams will not have enough firepower to hit the Over tonight.
Trail Blazers vs Knicks betting trend to know
Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Knicks.
Trail Blazers vs Knicks game info
| Location: | Madison Square Garden, Detroit, MI |
| Date: | Friday, November 25, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: |
Root Sports, MSG |
