Lakers vs. Knicks: Joe’s NBA Best Bet – Will the Lake Show Sink in the Garden?

Los Angeles Lakers (27-19 SU, 23-22 ATS) vs. New York Knicks (32-16 SU, 26-22 ATS)

When: Saturday, February 1st, 8:30 PM (ET)

Where: Madison Square Garden, NY, New York

TV: ABC

Point Spread: LAL +9.5/NY -9.5

Total: 227.5

Money Line: Los Angeles Lakers +339/-438

Notable Injuries

Lakers

• Anthony Davis (Out) Abdomen
• LeBron James (Probable) Foot
• Christian Wood (Out) Knee
• Dorian Finney-Smith (Questionable) Shoulder
• Gabe Vincent (Questionable) Knee
• Rui Hachimura (Probable) Calf
• Jalen Hood-Schifino (Out) Hamstring

Knicks

• Josh Hart (Questionable) Knee
• Mitchell Robinson (Out) Ankle
• Pacome Dadiet (Out) Toe

At 8:30 ET, the Knicks (-438) will host the Lakers (+339) in a non-conference matchup. New York is currently on a five-game win streak and is favored by 9.5 points over Los Angeles. The over/under line is set at 227.5.

This game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City and can be seen on ABC. The Knicks are 32-16 and are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers are 27-19 and are 5th in the Western Conference.

Recent Form

On Thursday, the Lakers improved to 27-19 with a dominant 134-96 win over the Wizards on the road. Los Angeles, favored by 8.5 points, covered the spread with ease. The game’s total score of 230 points exceeded the O/U line of 224 by six points.

The Lakers set the tone early, outscoring Washington 42-29 in the 1st quarter and 36-16 in the 2nd. A 10-0 run helped them pull away, and they entered the 4th quarter leading 105-70, closing out the game by winning the final two quarters 27-25 and 29-26.

The Knicks improved to 32-16 this season with a 122-112 win over the Nuggets on Wednesday. New York, favored by 2.5 points, covered the spread with the 10-point victory. The game’s total of 234 points fell short of the 241.5-point line.

A key moment came when the Knicks went on a 15-0 run, turning a 6-5 deficit into a 20-6 lead. They maintained control throughout, winning each quarter, including a 29-26 edge in the 4th.

The Historicals

The Lakers have had the better record vs the spread over the last five games, going 3-2. The team’s average scoring margin in these contests sits at 3 points per game. The over-under record in these same games is 2-3, with the teams combining for an average of 229 points per game.

Analysis

The Lakers’ offense was firing on all cylinders in their 134-96 win over the Wizards, shooting 54.4% from the field and hitting 15 threes at a 46.9% clip. LeBron James led the way with 24 points and 11 assists, while Rui Hachimura added 22 points, knocking down four threes at 80% shooting from deep.

Shake Milton contributed 21 points, shooting 87.5% from the field, with 10 of his points coming in the 4th quarter. LeBron scored 11 points in the 1st quarter, and Austin Reaves added 8 of his 17 points in the opening period.

The Lakers put on a defensive clinic against the Wizards, holding them to just 96 points. Their best quarter came in the 2nd, where they allowed only 16 points. Overall, they limited Washington to 31% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Lakers were even better, as the Wizards shot just 22% from three, making only 10. The Lakers also contributed with nine steals and six blocked shots.

Jalen Brunson’s 30 points and 15 assists led the Knicks to a win over the Nuggets, as he shot 62.5% from the field and hit three threes at 50% efficiency. OG Anunoby added 23 points, connecting on five threes at a 71.4% rate, while Josh Hart contributed 15 points.

Brunson scored 18 points in the 3rd quarter, and Miles McBride added 7 of his 12 points in the 2nd. The Knicks hit 14 threes, shooting 41.2% from deep and 51.6% overall.

Defensively, the Knicks gave up 112 points to the Nuggets but held Denver to just 26 points in the 4th quarter, helping secure the win. New York allowed 27 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters and 32 in the 3rd. The Nuggets shot 48% from the field.

The Knicks did well defending the three, limiting Denver to 10 made threes on 35% shooting. The Nuggets went 20/23 from the free-throw line. New York grabbed 29 defensive rebounds but allowed 11 offensive boards. They also recorded seven steals and two blocks.

Betting Trends

• In their last five games away from home, the Lakers have a straight-up record of 3-2 while going 2-2-1 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 114 points per game in these contests.
• In their last five games at home, the Knicks have a straight-up record of 3-2 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team averaged 116 points per game in this stretch.
• Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Los Angeles has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 1-2 straight up.
• Through their last three games as the favorite, the Knicks have an ATS record of 3-0 and a straight up mark of 3-0.

Joe’s Pick To Cover The Spread

Tonight’s Lakers vs Knicks matchup is a nationally televised game, and given the Lakers’ injury situation, they are +9.5 underdogs on the road. Right now, Lebron James is probable, but I see the Lakers falling behind early in this one. Look for New York to not only win but cover.