NY Knicks (17-10) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (5-23)
December 21, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +8.5; Over/Under: +226
(Get latest betting odds)
The New York Knicks and the New Orleans Pelicans do battle at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday night. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs NY Knicks Prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs NY Knicks Pick.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have been in great shape as they’ve won 12 of their last 16 games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight win after blowing past the Timberwolves in a 133-107 win on Thursday. Karl-Anthony Towns led the team with 32 points, 20 rebounds and six assists on 10 of 12 shooting, Mikal Bridges added 29 points with six assists while Miles McBride chipped in with 16 points and eight assists off the bench. As a team, the Knicks shot 51 percent from the field and 20 of 45 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest with a 41-point burst in the second quarter and they kept their foot on the gas until the lead ballooned out to 36 points.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been ice-cold as they’ve lost 23 of their first 28 games and they will be hoping to avoid a sixth straight defeat after getting scorched by the Rockets in a 133-113 road defeat on Thursday. Trey Murphy led the team with 28 points on 10 of 17 shooting, Herbert Jones added 20 points while CJ McCollum chipped in with 18 points and six assists. As a team, the Pelicans shot 44 percent from the field and 13 of 28 from the 3-point line as they allowed the Rockets to get off to a flyer and were always playing from behind after allowing 39 points in the first quarter. The Pels will play the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Clippers next.
Why the New York Knicks will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Knicks have won each of their last six games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in nine of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Knicks have covered the spread in five of their last six games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the last four games between the Knicks and Pelicans has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Nine of the Knicks’ last 11 night games against Western Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans Player Facts
- Trey Murphy III ranks T19th amongst qualified players for FT% (87.5%) this season.
- C.J. McCollum ranks T31st amongst qualified players for three-pointers made Per Game (2.7) this season.
New York Knicks Player Facts
- Karl-Anthony Towns ranks 1st amongst qualified players for rebounds per game (14.2) this season.
- Jalen Brunson ranks 4th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for assists per game (7.7) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for points per game this season (105.4).
- The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for three-point field goals made per game this season (11.0).
- The Knicks rank T1st in the league for opponent steals per game this season (6.9).
- The Knicks rank T1st in the league for Q2 win percentage this season (66.7%).
New Orleans Pelicans vs NY Knicks Prediction
The Knicks are still missing Mitchell Robinson, while the Pelicans are still playing without Zion Williamson, Jose Alverado, and Brandon Ingram to name a few. The Knicks come into this meeting as clear favorites as they’ve been rolling, while the Pelicans have continued their downward spiral with another blowout loss on Thursday. The line was always going to be pretty big for this one, but I think the Knicks bounce back and win this one by double digits on the road.
