Analysis of Knicks vs Nets Matchup: Odds, Picks & Predictions for January 21st

• The New York Knicks are 11.5-point favorites tonight versus the Nets
• Brooklyn will be down multiple starters as it looks to avoid a fourth straight loss
• Check out the Knicks vs Nets odds, picks and predictions, below

The battle of New York goes down tonight, but if you ask online sportsbooks, they don’t expect it to be much of a battle at all. The New York Knicks (28-16, 14-8 away) visit the Brooklyn Nets (14-29, 5-12 home), and they’ll do so as heavy favorites in the latest NBA betting lines. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:40pm ET from Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, NY.

New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets Odds

New York is currently favored by 11.5-points, in a contest with a total of 218.5. The spread is up a point from its opener, while the total is down four points from the opening line. The Knicks are hefty -625 moneyline favorites, with Brooklyn coming back as a +455 moneyline dog. A big reason for the pessimism on the Nets and the total has to do with Brooklyn’s injury situation, which is dire.

Odds as of January 20 at BetMGM. Be sure to check out the best BetMGM promo code before placing a bet on any NBA game tonight.

Knicks vs Nets Prediction

• New York Knicks -11.5 (-110)

The Nets will be without starting shooting guard Cam Thomas, as well as starting small forward Ziaire Williams. Starting point guard Ben Simmons is a legit question mark to play, as is backup point guard D’Angelo Russell. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Bojan Bogdanovic, who averaged 15 points a night last year with the Knicks, still hasn’t made his Nets debut.

Brooklyn was severely shorthanded last time out versus Oklahoma City, and the offense cratered. They mustered only 101 points, shooting 42% from the field. That ran their losing streak to three games, and marked the sixth time in the last nine contests they’ve failed to clear 101 points. They’ve dropped 11 of their last 13 overall, and are tied with fellow bottom-feeders Washington and Toronto for the lowest net rating in the league over that span.

Things won’t get any easier tonight with the Knicks in town. New York is a legit title contender in the NBA championship odds, and the fourth highest scoring team in the East. They’ve alternated wins and losses over their last seven games, beating up on the bad teams, but struggling against top competition.

Brooklyn obviously falls into the ladder category, and we shouldn’t be surprised if New York wins going away. Their last four victories have come by an average of 14 points. They won and covered yesterday versus Atlanta, on the strength of 34 points from Jalen Brunson, and 26 from former Net Mikal Bridges.

Monday also marked the return of Karl-Anthony Towns, who missed the previous two games with a sprained thumb. While Brooklyn is decimated by injuries, the Knicks are in good health. Backup center Mitchell Robinson is the only name on New York’s injury report, and he hasn’t suited up all season.

The Knicks are 2-0 versus the Nets this season, and while just one of those victories were by double-figures, both matchups came when Brooklyn was operating at full strength.

We’re going to lay the points with New York tonight, as these Nets injuries are too much to overcome. For what it’s worth, Brooklyn has failed to cover in six of its past nine games. In each instance, they lost by 14 or more, including a 59-point drubbing at the hands of the Clippers last Wednesday.

Knicks vs Nets Player Props

• Cameron Johnson Under 18.5 Points (-125)

Switching over to the NBA props market, where we’re looking to fade Nets wing Cam Johnson. His points over/under is all the way up to 18.5 due to Brooklyn’s injury woes. Johnson relies on shooting volume to get his numbers, and while he should have plenty of opportunity, his matchup with Bridges is a nightmare.

Bridges is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA, and routinely draws the opposing team’s top scorer. Tonight that will be Johnson, and with Bridges back in Brooklyn for the first time since being traded, he’ll likely have a little more motivation to lock down his check.

Also working against Johnson, is a lack of freebies. He averages less than four free throws per game, opting to settle for jumpers as opposed to attacking the rim. It’s much more difficult to rack up points against quality defenders that way, which has us running to bet his under.

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are set to face off on January 21st in what promises to be an exciting matchup between two of the NBA’s most storied franchises. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but with the game just around the corner, fans and bettors alike are eager to see how it will all play out.

As of now, the odds for the game are fairly even, with both teams having a chance to come out on top. The Knicks have been playing solid basketball as of late, with key players like Julius Randle and RJ Barrett leading the way. On the other hand, the Nets have been dealing with injuries to star players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but still have plenty of talent on their roster to compete.

When it comes to making picks and predictions for this game, it’s important to consider a few key factors. The Knicks have been playing well defensively, ranking near the top of the league in points allowed per game. If they can continue to lock down on defense and limit the Nets’ scoring opportunities, they will have a good chance of coming out on top.

On the other hand, the Nets have one of the most potent offenses in the league, led by James Harden and a supporting cast of shooters. If they can get hot from beyond the arc and push the pace of the game, they could overwhelm the Knicks and come away with a victory.

Ultimately, this game could go either way, making it a tough one to predict. However, if I had to make a pick, I would lean towards the Knicks pulling off a close win at home. Their defense has been solid all season, and if they can continue to play at a high level on that end of the court, they should be able to slow down the Nets’ high-powered offense.

In conclusion, the Knicks vs Nets matchup on January 21st is shaping up to be a competitive and exciting game. With both teams having their strengths and weaknesses, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out on the court. Fans and bettors alike will be eagerly watching to see who comes out on top in this battle of New York basketball.