New Orleans Pelicans at New York Knicks Betting Analysis and Predictions

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New Orleans Pelicans at New York Knicks Betting Analysis and Predictions

The New York Knicks will try to end a two-game home losing streak when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight at Madison Square Garden.

How Knicks and Pelicans Enter the Game

The Knicks are under .500 with a 22-23 straight-up (SU) record. They are also 22-23 against the spread (ATS). The over-under record stands at 19-26 for the season.

The Pelicans are 4-6 SU, 5-5 ATS, and a 4-6 over-under record spanning their past 10 games. The Pelicans have had two days off since their 104-92 loss to the Celtics in Boston, a game they failed to cover the spread as four-point underdogs.

In the loss to the Celtics, New Orleans center Jonas Valanciunas scored a team-high 22 points and had 14 rebounds. All five starters scored in double-digits, but it did not have the bench players needed to challenge the Celtics.

Rest Matters for NBA Bettors

Over the past five seasons, the Pelicans are 26-23 SU, 27-22 ATS, and 22-26-1 over-under when playing with two days of rest regardless of the game location.

In road games playing with two days of rest, the Pelicans are 11-13 SU, 15-9 ATS, for 63% winning bets, and 9-15 over-under, good for 63% winning under wagers.

The Knicks are a terrible 15-37 SU, 21-29-2 ATS for 42%, and the over-under is 21-31, for 60% winning under wagers when playing an opponent with two days of rest over the past five seasons.

When playing at home and squaring off against a foe playing on two days rest, the Knicks are a miserable 9-15 SU and ATS, for 38%, and the over-under has earned a 7-17 record, good for 71% winning under bets spanning the past five seasons.

Plus, New York is 4-10 SU and ATS and over-under in home games coming off a loss and facing an opponent enjoying two full days of rest spanning the past five seasons.

Pelicans at Knicks Pick

For those engaging in New York sports betting, the market opened with the Knicks as 2.5-point favorites and immediately was greeted with Knicks bettors. That forced the market to move higher, with the Knicks now favored by four. The total opened and has remained static at 210.5 points.

I am on the Pelicans in this game and will look to get to the window betting the Pelicans as a 4.5-point underdog.

The market will have enough Knicks bets to move to 4.5 points as the public thinking is based on the Knicks' two-game home losing streak and that they will not lose three in a row to a losing record team. My power ratings have the Pelicans installed as a two-point road favorite, so we get plenty of value at even four points.

The Pelicans Devonte Graham is managing left ankle soreness, and it is unclear if he will face the Knicks tonight. His presence would be a plus, of course, but I am betting the Pelicans regardless of his playing status.