Knicks vs. Raptors prediction and odds for Friday, January 6th (Why under is the play)

The Raptors tailspin continued on Wednesday, as they lost their seventh game in 10 tries on Wednesday despite pulling off a near-miracle comeback against the Bucks in their prior game.

Now, the Raptors host the New York Knicks, who just got a career high outing from Jalen Brunson in their last game, a win against the San Antonio Spurs, in which their point guard scored 38 points.

Will the Knicks continue their upward ascent and hand their Atlantic Division foe another deflating loss? Let’s check out the odds and find the best bet:

Knicks vs. Raptors odds, spread and total

Knicks vs. Raptors prediction and pick 

The Raptors continue to get respect in the betting market despite their poor form of late, sitting as a small favorite against a Knicks team that boasts a better record and is ninth in net rating this season. However, Toronto still has the versatility on defense to suffocate opposing offenses and turn games into a rock fight.

While that makes the team a strong underdog play, able to stick to opponents and avoid blowouts by getting stops on the defensive side of the floor, that may not play out well when they are expected to win by margin.

Both teams are bottom 10 in the league in terms of pace and this game should be a physical and low scoring affair. Toronto’s offense has been brutal of late, 26th in points per 100 possessions in the last two weeks but their defense remains fantastic, seventh in that same metric on the other end.

While the Knicks offense has been playing well of late, ninth in terms of points per 100 possessions, their defense has been just as good, also ninth.

With two slow tempos and strong defenses, I think we see a low scoring affair and this game decided in the final minutes. I’ll back the under.

• Published on 01/06/2023 at 11:05 AM EDT
• Last updated on 01/06/2023 at 11:05 AM EDT