New York Knicks vs Denver Nuggets

The New York Knicks have clinched their first winning season since 2012-13 and are playoff-bound, but they are underdogs for Wednesday’s trip to the very good Denver Nuggets and MVP betting favorite Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets are short favorites on the NBA odds.

How to Bet Knicks at Nuggets NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 9 PM ET
Where: Ball Arena
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com

Last Meeting

The teams played Jan. 10 in New York and Denver rolled to a 114-89 victory. Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Denver led 28-21 after one, then made its first six shots of the second with its reserves on the floor to open a 40-22 lead on JaMychal Green’s layup. The lead ballooned to 22 late in the first half before the Nuggets took a 59-38 advantage to the break. Julius Randle had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Knicks.

Denver has won 19 of the last 24 meetings and 12 in a row at home. Overall, the Nuggets lead the series 48-44 and 30-15 at home.

Why Bet on New York? | NBA Betting Analysis

The Knicks won their third in a row, 118-104 as slight underdogs in Memphis on Monday. With the win, the Knicks are assured of their first winning record in a season since going 54-28 in 2012-13. It was New York’s 12^th victory in its past 13. Memphis, which trailed by as many as 17 in the second half, tried to rally in the fourth quarter and cut the New York advantage to 101-96 with 5:28 left. Julius Randle answered with a 3-pointer with 3:57 remaining and that was that.

Randle finished with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists with one turnover in 38 minutes. Randle has now scored at least 25 points in five of his last six appearances while grabbing at least six rebounds in each one of those contests. Randle earned his first All-Star Game spot this season and seems the likely winner of the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

Derrick Rose 11-of-15 shots and three 3-pointers for a season-high 25 points off the bench. The veteran point guard has dazzled in recent weeks and has scored at least 20 points in four of his last six games. New York is 21-8 with Rose this season after landing him from trade via Detroit. Rose is averaging 14.3 points per game to go along with 4.1 assists. He has seen more and more minutes as the season has gone on.

Alec Burks sprained his ankle late in Monday’s game and didn’t return, finishing with nine points, two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes off the bench. Burks was just returning from an eight-game absence due to COVID protocols. Burks probably won’t play here.

Taj Gibson started for injured Nerlens Noel (ankle) on Monday and hit 3-of-5 shots for six points, 12 rebounds, two assists and five blocks. Gibson figures to work as the Knicks’ starting center if Noel misses any additional time, and Noel is questionable for this one.

Why Bet on Denver? | NBA Betting Analysis

The Nuggets were on a five-game winning streak when they visited a Lakers team without LeBron James on Monday but Denver was upset 93-89. The Lakers led by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter before the Nuggets got within 89-87 with a late rally. With Portland’s loss, Denver is assured of finishing in the top six in the conference and will not have to worry about the Play-In Tournament.

The Nuggets 43.9 percent and only connected on six of its 24 three-point attempts. Denver is one of the better teams at the charity stripe in the NBA, converting at 79.6 percent a night (seventh in the NBA). On Monday, the team missed five attempts and shot 68.8 percent overall from the line.

MVP favorite Nikola Jokic hit 12-of-28 shots, a 3-pointer and 7-of-8 free throws for 32 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Marc Gasol flashed some good defense at him with Andre Drummond in foul trouble tonight. Jokic still filled the stat sheet despite his worst shooting night since April 14. With the playoffs looming, expect Jokic to take some days off as the Nuggets are now clear of the play-in game.

Michael Porter produced had 19 points and six rebounds, his first “off” game after six stellar performances. Guard PJ Dozier was injured in early in the fourth quarter. He was taken to the locker room with left hip tightness and did not return. Austin Rivers, Facundo Campazzo and Shaq Harrison are the only healthy guards currently on the roster.

Since Jamal Murray went down on 4/12 for the season, Denver has held their ground going 9-2 in that span and since the all-star break, Denver is 22-7, the best mark in the NBA.