Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

Written by on April 12, 2021

Lakers star LeBron James likes playing at New York’s Madison Square Garden more than any other arena, but LeBron and Anthony Davis both remain out injured as the Lakers visit MSG on Monday night. The Knicks are thus favored on the NBA odds.

How to Bet Lakers at Knicks NBA Odds & TV Info

  • When: Monday, 7:30 PM ET
  • Where: Madison Square Garden
  • TV: NBA League Pass
  • Stream:com, NBA TV app
  • Radio:com
  • NBA Odds: Knicks -2 (total 204.5)

Season Series

First Meeting. Dating back to the Minneapolis era, this will be the 292nd meeting between the two sides and the 201st since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season. The Lakers lead 169-122. In New York, the Lakers have gone 3-7 in their last 10 trips to Madison Square Garden. On Feb. 2, 2009, Kobe Bryant scored a Madison Square Garden record 61 points on 19-of-31 shooting while converting all 20 of his free throw attempts.

Why Bet on LA Lakers? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

Los Angeles was an upset winner at Brooklyn on Saturday, 126-101. The Lakers picked up their eighth 20-point win of the season. A season-high eight Lakers players scored in double figures and Los Angeles tied their season high with 19 three-pointers made in the win.

Talen Horton-Tucker moved into the starting lineup on Saturday vs. the Nets, scoring 14 points with a career-high 11 assists along with three rebounds, three steals and two triples. The Lakers were without Wesley Matthews (right Achilles tendon tightness) and were extremely short handed once again.

Andre Drummond totaled 20 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot across 22 minutes. After Dennis Schroder and Kyrie Irving’s ejections, Drummond stepped up and helped the Lakers distance themselves in a decisive victory over one of the league’s best teams — even without James Harden (hamstring). Drummond became the second Lakers player all-time to tally at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes or less (Bob McAdoo).

For a third straight game the Lakers’ three-point shooting was strong. The team collectively shot 55% beyond the arc largely on behalf of the newest Laker, Ben McLemore (17 pts), and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14 pts, 5 ast).

Marc Gasol (hamstring), Kyle Kuzma (calf), and Matthews (Achilles) are being listed as questionable for Monday’s matchup with the Knicks. All these guys missed Saturday’s game.

Why Bet on New York? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Knicks were 102-96 home winners over Toronto on Sunday. Julius Randle hit 7-of-19 shots and 11-of-11 free throws for 26 points, five assists, eight rebounds and five turnovers. Randle notched 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game for the 22nd time this season. The 11 free throws made were also his most in a game this season.

Randle was drafted by the Lakers with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and played for the team from 2014-18. Randle is one of four players in the NBA averaging at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists (Antetokounmpo, Jokic & Sabonis).

RJ Barrett hit 7-of-12 shots for 19 points, five assists, one rebound, two steals, and no turnovers. Barrett’s last 3-point shot sealed the win for the Knicks. In the last four games, he’s made 15-of-22 shots from range and scored 19 or more points. He’s shot 53.8% or better in that stretch, too. Over his last 42 games, he’s connecting on 45.4% of threes on 3.4 attempts per game. It’s not crazy volume, but Barrett is taking good shots — not forcing bad ones.

Nerlens Noel posted nine points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, an assist and a steal across 28 minutes. Noel was the only starter for the Knicks that didn’t score in double figures, but he made up for that with a strong defensive performance that included four blocks and a season-high 13 rebounds. Noel has also registered two or more blocks in five games in a row.

More importantly, the Knicks probably sealed a spot in the play-in tournament. They moved six games in front of the Raptors, who are in 11th place. The top 10 teams will either qualify for the play-in or for a playoff berth.

The Knicks were in on Andre Drummond on the buyout market, but the big man ultimately decided to go to the Lakers.

Expert NBA Prediction

Knicks 107, Lakers 104

 
 

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