The New York Knicks visit Barclays Center for a high-profile tilt on Tuesday. The Knicks take on the Brooklyn Nets, with both teams coming off 2020-21 playoff appearances. Brooklyn is 14-6 this season, with New York at 11-9 through 20 games. RJ Barrett (illness), Taj Gibson (groin), Nerlens Noel (knee), Mitchell Robinson (illness) and Derrick Rose (ankle) are listed as questionable for the Knicks. Joe Harris (ankle) and Nicolas Claxton (illness) are out for the Nets, while Kyrie Irving remains ineligible to play.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Brooklyn as a 7.5-point favorite at home, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 216.5 in the latest odds. Before making any Nets vs. Knicks picks or NBA predictions, be sure to check out what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 7 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $1,500 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It’s also on a stunning 117-77 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Nets and just locked in its NBA picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Nets vs. Knicks:
- Knicks vs. Nets spread: Nets -7.5
- Knicks vs. Nets over-under: 216.5 points
- Knicks vs. Nets money line: Nets -330, Knicks +260
- NYK: The Knicks are 9-11 against the spread in the last 20 games
- BKN: The Nets are 9-11 against the spread in the last 20 games
Featured Game | Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks
Why the Knicks can cover
New York’s defense is stout under Tom Thibodeau, and the numbers reflect that. The Knicks are No. 3 in the NBA in field-goal percentage allowed (42.8 percent) and No. 2 in the NBA in 2-point percentage allowed (49.0 percent). New York is also in the top five in blocked shots (5.9 per game) and points allowed in the paint (41.5 per game), with an above-average mark in fast-break points allowed (11.8 per game).
Brooklyn is very good on offense, but the Nets are also last in the league in offensive rebound rate at only 21.2 percent. The Knicks are shooting well on offense, knocking down 36.6 percent of 3-point attempts, and New York is in the top 10 in free-throw attempts (21.1 per game). Finally, Thibodeau’s team is above-average in offensive rebound rate (27.2 percent) and turnover rate (14.2 percent), helping to provide stability even on nights when the Knicks don’t shoot at a high level.
Why the Nets can cover
Brooklyn’s defense is playing at a sky-high level, allowing only 1.06 points per possession and leading the NBA in three-point defense at 30.7 percent. Beyond that, the Nets have a favorable matchup against a Knicks offense that is shaky in a few areas. New York is No. 28 in the NBA in assists (21.4 per game) and No. 25 in the NBA in two-point shooting (49.2 percent). The Knicks are also in the bottom ten of the league in field goal shooting (43.8 percent), and Brooklyn also has a path to success on offense.
The Nets led the NBA in offensive rating last season, and Brooklyn is currently No. 2 in the league in three-point shooting at 37.5 percent. The Nets are also a top-six team in field goal shooting (46.7 percent) and assists (25.3 per game), with the Knicks ranking No. 25 in the NBA in turnovers created on defense with only 13.1 takeaways per game.
How to make Knicks vs. Nets picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the point total, with only one player projected to score more than 20 points. The model also says one side of the Nets vs. Knicks point spread hits in almost 70 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Knicks vs. Nets pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Knicks vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits in almost 70 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Knicks vs. Nets spread you need to jump on Tuesday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
