Madison Square Garden hosts one of the most intriguing NBA games on the schedule on Thursday. The New York Knicks welcome the Denver Nuggets to Manhattan for a cross-conference matchup. The Knicks are 27-17 and entering this matchup on a four-game winning streak. The reigning champion Nuggets have won three straight games, improving to 31-14 this season. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is out for New York, with Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) listed as questionable. Julian Strawther (knee) is out for Denver.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Nuggets as 2.5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 222.5 in the latest Nuggets vs. Knicks odds. Before you make any Knicks vs. Nuggets picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 48-25 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning over $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nuggets vs. Knicks and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Knicks vs. Nuggets:
- Nuggets vs. Knicks spread: Nuggets -2.5
- Nuggets vs. Knicks over/under: 222.5 points
- Nuggets vs. Knicks money line: Nuggets -132, Knicks +111
- DEN: The Nuggets are 8-15-1 against the spread in road games
- NYK: The Knicks are 11-7-1 against the spread in home games
- Nuggets vs. Knicks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Denver is led by one of the best players in the NBA in Nikola Jokic. The two-time MVP is averaging 26.2 points per game on 66.0% true shooting this season, and Jokic ranks in the top five of the league in rebounds (12.0 per game) and assists (9.1 per game). Jokic is also putting up 30.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per game on 70% field goal shooting over his last seven appearances. With Jokic in the middle of the attack, Denver is scoring 118.8 points per 100 possessions this season, and the Nuggets are in the top five of the league in field goal percentage (49.9%), 2-point percentage (56.6%), assists (29.1 per game), turnover avoidance (12.6 per game), and points in the paint (54.3 per game).
The Nuggets are also securing more than 30% of available offensive rebounds, and Denver's defense is strong this season. Denver is holding opponents to only 46.6% shooting, including 52.6% on 2-point attempts, and the Nuggets are in the top three of the NBA in second-chance points allowed (12.5 per game). The Nuggets are also above-average in fast break points allowed and assists allowed, with Denver facing a Knicks offense that is shooting only 46.6% from the field and averaging only 24.0 assists per game. See which team to pick here.
Why the Knicks can cover
New York's defense is stout, but the Knicks are also performing well on offense. The Knicks are scoring more than 1.17 points per possession, and New York leads the NBA in offensive rebound rate (33.6%). The Knicks are averaging 16.5 second-chance points per game, and New York creates more than 24 free throw attempts per game. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are at the forefront of the Knicks' offense, with Brunson scoring at least 30 points in five straight games. He is generating 26.6 points and 6.5 assists per game over the balance of the season, while Randle has also been fantastic in recent days, averaging 27 points and 8.9 rebounds over his last 14 outings.
The Knicks are 10-2 in the last 12 games, posting a +12.9 net rating in the process, and New York enters this matchup on an active four-game winning streak. In addition, New York is a superior team at home this season, out-scoring opponents by more than eight points per 100 possessions on the way to a 14-5 mark at Madison Square Garden. See which team to pick here.
How to make Knicks vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 226 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 60% of the time. You can only see the model's NBA picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Nuggets vs. Knicks, and which side of the spread hits in over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 48-25 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
