Atlantic Division rivals will square off Thursday night when the Toronto Raptors host the New York Knicks. Toronto is looking to extend its division lead over Boston and New York in the division, while New York is trying to stay on the playoff bubble as the months tick away.
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LET DOWN
For the Knicks, this game won't come at the best time. It's a sandwich road game in the middle of two home games that are just three days apart. Not only that, but two nights before they play the Raptors, they get to host Kevin Durant and the Thunder.
With this marquee matchup getting a lot of attention, the Knicks may not have the focus they would normally have for such a crucial road game.
KEY MATCHUP
How will the Knicks stop Kyle Lowry? Lowry is no longer one of the most underrated players in the league, but is straightforward one of the best players in the NBA. The last time these teams played the Knicks got the win, but Lowry had little trouble beating the Knicks' defense, putting up 23 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
Lowry is capable of getting a triple double every night and also plays pretty good defense. New York will have to limit his influence in this game.
He isn't the only threat the Knicks are going to have to try to guard. DeMar DeRozan can put up points with the best of the guards in the East and has dropped 30 in three of his last four games before the Raptors' Tuesday night game against the Wizards.
Kristaps Porzingis may be getting all the attention, but Carmelo Anthony is still the star of this team. Melo leads the Knicks with 21.3 points per game and runs the offense up and down the court. His presence is questionable in this one because of a sore left knee that kept him out of Tuesday's game against the Thunder, but the Knicks are hopeful he'll be healthy this time.
LIVE BETTING SCENARIO
The Knicks have been struggling a bit recently. Coming into their game against the Thunder, the Knicks were 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS in their last six. Those two wins didn't come easy either as both Utah and Philadelphia took New York to overtime in Madison Square Garden.
Across the court, Toronto has been on a tear recently. They had won eight straight and went 7-1 ATS in those tilts heading into Tuesday's bout with the Wizards.
The over has been a good play in Raptors' games recently with four of Toronto's last six combining to go over the closing total. The over is also 12-9 in Toronto home games this season. For the Knicks, the over has cashed in five of their last seven games as well.
Whether or not Carmelo plays and how healthy he is will be a big determinant in what this game is lined at. Without Carmelo, the Knicks would be forced to start Lance Thomas, who has been pretty good as a substitute this season but is clearly not the same level of player.
Down low, the matchup to watch will be Toronto's combo of Jonas Valanciunas and Bismack Biyombo against Porzingis and Robin Lopez. Valanciunas and Biyombo have been a great tandem at hauling in rebounds on the season and if they are winning the battle in the blocks early, Toronto is worth a play on the readjusted pointspread.
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! Bet on the NBA today as the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors square off Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. ET at Air Canada Centre. The matchup will be televised nationally on TNT.
