The New York Knicks (40-21) are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers (39-21) in an NBA matchup tonight, with tipoff at 10 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
As two top teams in the league, the Lakers are favored by 2.5 points and -142 to win outright, while the Knicks are +120 to pull off an upset. However, with their strong recent performance, especially from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, many experts expect a high-scoring game.
The Lakers have dominated with a new dynamic duo, with a +10.2 Net Rating since the All-Star Break. They boast the league’s best defense, but their offense is only average thus far. The Knicks, on the other hand, have struggled lately, with an advanced point differential of -6.7 and a scoring rate of 109.7 points per 100 possessions.
One key difference between the teams is their shooting percentages from beyond the arc. The Lakers are taking 45% of their shots from three-point range, which has helped them compensate for a lower overall shooting percentage. In contrast, the Knicks have struggled to make threes, with a significant swing in their 3-point shooting percentage.
Given these factors, many experts expect the game to go over 231 total points. The Lakers are taking early money on this bet, and the line has moved towards them overnight. Meanwhile, the Knicks have been brutal against-the-spread (ATS) this season, especially over their last 10 games.
In a same-game parlay, some experts are backing LeBron James for 8+ rebounds, Luka Doncic for 25+ points, and Karl-Anthony Towns for 2+ three-pointers. Overall, with both teams’ defenses leaving something to be desired, the expected high scoring nature of this game makes the over 231 total points a compelling bet.
Source: https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/knicks-vs-lakers-prediction-odds-parlay-pick-for-thursday-march-6-qs