The San Antonio Spurs have flown under the radar this season as all eyes are on the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Even so, the team just continues to win and is sitting comfortably in second place in the Western Conference and looking like the Warriors’ top foe.
The Spurs will look to keep piling up the wins this week when it hits the road to take on the New York Knicks. New York has had plenty of controversy the past couple weeks and is trying to keep everything together.
The Knicks are quickly falling out of the playoff hunt and it seems like this is turning into a lost season. It will be tough to win this game, even at home, because of the talent disparity on these rosters.
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The Spurs are 40-12 straight up and 29-22-1 against the spread on the season. San Antonio has played in 26 road games and has performed well, with a 15-11-1 record against the spread. The Spurs aren’t affected much by the opposing crowds because they are such a well-coached team.
San Antonio has played the vast majority of their games as the favorite on the season and has gone 25-21-1 against the spread in them. The Spurs will again be giving points in this one.
The Knicks are 22-31 straight up and 29-24 against the spread. New York has played in 26 home games this season and has covered in 16 of them. The Knicks are 18-17 against the spread as the underdog this season.
Player to Watch
Kawhi Leonard -- The Spurs’ leading scorer missed Monday’s game against the Grizzlies due to a lingering quad injury. He returned on Wednesday against the 76ers, finishing with 32 points and five assists in the 111-103 win.
Leonard is averaging 25.3 points per game this season. He scored a season-high 41 points against Cleveland last month, helping the Spurs to a 118-115 victory.
Leonard is a vital part of the Spurs defense as well. He has twice been named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and lead the team in steals with 1.8 per game. While he’s not flashy, Leonard has elevated his game to another level the past couple of years and has become one of the best players in the NBA.
The Knicks will have a hard time slowing him down, and he can also guard Carmelo Anthony when needed to make life tough on New York’s star forward.
Injury Report
Joakim Noah -- The Knicks forward is out this week with a hamstring injury and could miss the next two games at home, including the matchup against the Spurs on Sunday. Noah leads the team in rebounding with 8.7 a game while adding 5.0 points and 0.8 blocks per game.
Noah suffered the hamstring injury to his left leg in the Knicks’ loss to Cleveland last Saturday and has already missed two games this week. It’s not clear when the center will return yet.
While Noah isn’t as good of a player as he used to be, his defense is still solid and he is a key piece on the Knicks. The Spurs have some good low post play, and Noah will be missed if he is forced to sit again.
Free NBA ATS Picks
It’s been a crazy few weeks for New York, between trade rumors swirling around Anthony to the arrest of former player Charles Oakley at a game earlier in the week. The Knicks are fading fast and seem unlikely to qualify for the playoffs even in the weak East.
The Spurs, meanwhile, just keep on rolling along in their quiet way. San Antonio is a much more disciplined team and has the better talent. If the Spurs play their game, the Knicks won’t be able to stay with them. Take the Spurs by a few buckets.
NBA Odds: Spurs 106, Knicks 99
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