Raptors vs. Knicks best bet: New York is elite on back-to-backs under Tom Thibodeau
By Peter Dewey
The New York Knicks can do no wrong right now, winning their eighth straight game on Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors.
Vibes? Immaculate. Playing for each other.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 21, 2022
IQ 22 PTS | 4 REB | 2 STL
JB 21 PTS | 5 AST | 3 REB
QG 19 PTS | 4 AST
RJ 18 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST
JU 15 PTS | 12 REB | 5 AST pic.twitter.com/ObhMdS6pto
New York blew out the Warriors, 132-94, which is a good sign because Tom Thibodeau was able to sit his starters in the fourth quarter with a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors on tap on Wednesday.
The Raptors are reeling at the moment, losing six straight games, and they’ve gone just 3-12 straight up on the road this season.
This winning streak alone has been impressive for the Knicks, but the team has also covered the spread in every single game across the streak. Thibodeau’s team is defending at an elite level over the stretch as well, holding opponents to less than 100 points five times.
Toronto desperately needs a win, but does it come against this red hot Knicks team?
The odds have New York as a slight favorite in this divisional matchup:
Raptors vs. Knicks odds, spread and total
Raptors vs. Knicks prediction and pick
Why not bet the Knicks to make it nine straight?
There are plenty of factors in the Knicks’ favor in this game, starting with Toronto’s road struggles this season.
The Raptors are one of the worst teams straight up on the road, and they’re 6-9 against the spread so far in the 2022-23 campaign.
This line is short enough where you can take the Knicks on the moneyline, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do with them playing the No. 1 defense and posting the No. 1 net rating in the league over their last 10 games.
The Knicks should have everyone available tonight after a blowout of Golden State, and Thibodeau’s Knicks have been ELITE on the second leg of back-to-backs in his tenure.
New York is 21-9-1 against the spread (the best mark in the NBA) in that spot since Thibs took over, going 3-1-1 this season.
Right now, the Knicks are playing too well for me to bet against them against this struggling Toronto team. New York or nothing on Wednesday night.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.