The NBA betting action continues Friday, February 25, 2022, with the Eastern Conference showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York, so we have prepared the best Heat vs. Knicks betting pick along with the latest odds update on DraftKings NY Sportsbook.Â
Miami meets New York for the second time in 2021-22, and the Heat aim for their fifth consecutive victory over the Knicks. Back in January, Miami defeated New York 110-96 as a 6-point home fave with a total of 202.5 points.
The Heat won six of their last seven contests      Â
The Miami Heat (38-21; 33-25-1 ATS) entered the All-Star break tied with the Chicago Bulls for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They’ve won six of their previous seven games overall, going 4-2-1 ATS in the process.
Miami continues to lean on its defense. During that seven-game stretch, the Heat have held their opponents below 101 points on five occasions. Miami’s D ranks fourth in the NBA in field goal percentage (44.2%) and 12th in 3-point percentage (34.3%).
On the other side of the ball, the Heat tally 112.8 points per 100 possessions (7th in the NBA) on 46.0% shooting from the field (tied-13th) and 37.3% from beyond the 3-point line (3rd). Jimmy Butler leads the way with 21.8 points and 6.0 assists per game, while Bam Adebayo adds 18.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a night.
The Knicks continue to struggle       Â
The New York Knicks are on a three-game losing streak following a 111-106 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets on February 16. Playing as 4.5-point home favorites, the Knicks upset their fans in another collapse at Madison Square Garden in NYC.
New York blew a massive 28-point lead against the Nets, scoring only 41 points in the second half. Julius Randle led the charge with a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double, but the rest of the Knicks struggled mightily on the offensive end.
The Knicks score only 109.0 points per 100 possessions (25th in the NBA) and surrender 110.5 in a return (tied-14th). R.J. Barrett, who’s missed the last four games with an ankle injury, should return to the lineup, and his presence would certainly help the Knicks’ offense. Derrick Rose (ankle) is still on the shelf, while Kemba Walker (personal) is done for the season.
Trends:
Miami:
- 4-0-1 ATS in the last five games on the road
- 7-2 ATS in the last nine games against New York
New York:
- 1-7 ATS in the last eight games overall
- 4-9 ATS in the last 13 games against the Southeast Division
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks Pick
The Knicks are in shambles, so I would be surprised if they manage to upset the surging Heat. With R.J. Barrett back in the lineup, New York is certainly capable of keeping it close, but the Heat’s defense should be a decisive factor.
I’ve mentioned how good Miami’s D has been lately. The Knicks, on the other side, have yielded 120 or more points in five of their last ten outings. They will have to improve a lot on both sides of the floor in order to pull off an upset.
Pick: Take Miami Heat
The Total:
Betting on the under is a logical choice when it comes to the totals. It looks like the best Heat vs. Knicks betting pick as well. Miami plays at the slowest pace in the NBA, recording only 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, while the Knicks average 95.7, enough for the third-lowest in the league.
The under is 5-2 in Miami’s last seven games overall and 4-1 in its last five showings on the road. On the flip side, the over is 4-1 in New York’s previous five contests overall. Interestingly, 16 of the last 20 meetings between the Heat and Knicks at Madison Square Garden have gone under the total.
Pick: Go under
