These inter-conference rivals will open an eight-game slate in the NBA scheduled for Saturday, March 18, and here you can check out the best Nuggets vs. Knicks betting pick and odds.
New York is hoping for the third straight victory when they host Denver at Madison Square Garden. The Nuggets are 3-point favorites on BetRivers Sportsbook, while the total is set at N/A points. These inter-conference rivals will meet for the second time this season; the Knicks won 106-103 in Denver.
Nuggets didn’t have trouble with Detroit
The Denver Nuggets (47-23, 38-32-0 ATS) went through their worst period of the season during which they suffered four consecutive defeats but responded with a 119-100 road win over the Detroit Pistons. The Nuggets opened their five-game road trip with a loss to the Toronto Raptors, and even though the Pistons did cause them some trouble in the first half, Denver controlled the situation in the second 24 minutes. The Nuggets kept the hosts to 36 points in the second half and scored 61 in return. They were good from the floor (52.8%), controlled the rebounds (47-37), and forced 17 turnovers while committing nine on the other end.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with a double-double of game-high 30 points and team-high ten rebounds, along with a game-high nine assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 20 points with a game-high three steals, Jamal Murray posted a double-double of 19 points and game-high ten dishes with six boards, Aaron Gordon had 15 points and eight rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 15 points, five boards, and game-high three blocks.
PF Zeke Nnaji (shoulder) is questionable to face New York on Saturday.
Knicks beat the Trail Blazers on the road
The New York Knicks (41-30, 39-29-3 ATS) returned home from a four-game road trip with two wins in a bag. Those two victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak and the Knicks are now in a solid position to secure one of the top six seeds in the East. The Knicks limited the Blazers to 38.4% from the field and shot 51.9% in return to get a comfortable 123-107 win. New York dominated the boards (52-38) and made 24 free throws opposite Portland’s 14.
Immanuel Quickley led the Knicks with a double-double of 26 points and game-high ten rebounds. Julius Randle also registered a double-double of 24 points and ten boards along with four assists, R.J. Barrett had 22 points, five rebounds, and game-high three blocks, Miles McBride scored 18 points with two rejections, while Josh Hart contributed 16 points, nine boards, game-high eight dimes, and game-high three thefts.
PG Jalen Brunson has missed the last three games with a left foot contusion, and it is up in the air if he will play on Saturday versus the Nuggets.
Trends:
Denver:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games overall
- 1-4 ATS in the last five games playing on one day of rest
New York:
- 10-3-1 ATS in the last 14 games overall
- 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven home games
- 8-1 ATS in the last nine games following an ATS win
Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks Pick
Denver is slightly better offensively, and New York is slightly better defensively, but the reason for backing the Knicks here is a home-court advantage and a better form at the moment. The Knicks won six of the last seven games at MSG, while the Nuggets lost three of the previous five on the road. Denver showed some weaknesses against teams over .500 lately, and New York belongs to that group, so I am going with the hosts in this one, regardless of Jalen Brunson’s availability. The Knicks proved they can play without him as Immanuel Quickley emerged as a more than a decent deputy.
Pick: Take the Knicks at +3.5 (-110)
The Total
The Nuggets are scoring 116.9 points per game opposite the Knicks’ 115.1 points per contest. When it comes to defense, Denver is allowing 113.0 ppg opposite New York’s 112.3 ppg. Both teams belong to the top 5 in offensive rating; the Nuggets produce 118.2 points per 100 possessions, while the Knicks are scoring 117.0 points per 100 possessions, so we can expect a high-scoring affair here. That wasn’t the case when the rivals met in November as they combined for 209 points, but this time around it will be different. Over is 9-4 in the last 13 H2H meetings; Over is 5-2 in the Nuggets’ previous seven overall, while Over is 10-3 in the Knicks’ last 13 vs. a team with a winning straight-up record.
Pick: Go Over N/A points
