Dr. A's Pick for Raptors @ Knicks Plus 5 Props

The red-hot 18-13 Knicks will host the struggling 13-18 Raptors in what looks to be the NBA game of the night on Wednesday. 

The Knicks are not only 8-5 at home this season but are the hottest team in the Association after beating the Warriors on Tuesday to rack up their eighth-straight win. Granted, those wins came against the likes of Cleveland, Atlanta, Charlotte, Sacramento, Chicago (twice), Indiana and a Stephen Curry-less Warriors team, but given that four of those wins came on the road, you simply can’t deny how good they’ve been of late. On the flip side, the Raptors are reeling right now, losing six straight games to several teams they should have beaten (The Magic - twice, the Kings and the Warriors). They battled with the Sixers on Monday before succumbing to a three-point loss in overtime and also fell to the Nets by just three points last Friday.

This will be the first meeting of the season for the two teams but it couldn’t come at a worse time for Toronto or a better time for the Knicks. The Raptors are clearly missing Gary Trent Jr., who has been out with a quad injury since Dec. 14, but they got good news when O.G. Anunoby was able to play in Monday’s overtime loss to Philly. Anunoby had been out since Dec. 9 with a hip injury. The Raptors might get more good news tonight, as Trent Jr. is listed as questionable ahead of the game. Juancho Hernangomez started in Trent’s place on Monday but only played 14 minutes. The Raptors are otherwise healthy.

The Knicks are healthy except for Obi Toppin’s knee injury that has had him sidelined for most of December. Julius Randle is the Knicks’ leading scorer at 22.3 points per game and had been rolling until he hit just 5-of-12 shots for 15 points against the Warriors on Tuesday. However, that was nearly a 40-point blowout and he played just 30 minutes as a result. The 15 points were his fewest since he scored just 14 against the Grizzlies on Nov. 17. Randle has scored between 24 and 34 points in six of his nine December games thus far. Jalen Brunson is averaging nearly 21 points and 6.2 assists per game for the Knicks this season and has scored in double figures in all but one game. He’s scored 30 points in two of his last four games and will look to keep it going against Fred VanVleet tonight. RJ Barrett is playing better of late and is averaging 19.4 points per game for the Knicks thus far. He’s quietly hit double digits in scoring in 18 straight games and is also averaging 6.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.8 3-pointers in December, shooting a serviceable 44.3 percent from the floor this month. The Knicks’ last loss came against Dallas back on Dec. 3.

The Raptors are led by Pascal Siakam’s 25 points per game to go along with 8.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 3-pointers per game, all of which are career highs, sans the steals and threes. Siakam went off for 38 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and three 3-pointers in the loss to the Sixers but also went on a recent three-game stretch where he failed to score more than 19 points. The Raptors will need a big game from Siakam tonight if they’re going to snap the losing streak. Anunoby and VanVleet both average 18.7 points per game for the Knicks and Trent Jr. is their next best scorer at 16.9 points, so they’ll really be looking forward to his return. VanVleet has a pair of 29-point games over his last four, but hit just 3-of-15 shots for nine points in Monday’s loss. He’ll need to bounce back tonight. Scottie Barnes plays big minutes for the Raptors but had just six points on Monday and 17 in his previous game as his shot has faded. He’s hit just 18-of-43 shots over his last three games, good for just 41.8 percent.

While the Raptors are probably due to snap their losing streak soon and it could happen tonight, I like the fact that the Knicks are so hot, are 8-5 at home and the Raptors are just 3-12 on the road. Top Oddscrowd performer Opportunista likes the Knicks -1.5 tonight and so do I. It seems like the Knicks should be giving more points, although this could also be a sign that Trent Jr. is set to make his return tonight. 

Pick: Knicks -1.5

Prop Picks

Trae Young over 26.5 points - He’s heating up again

Giannis Antetokounmpo over 29.5 points - Had 38 vs. Cavs on Nov. 25 but blowout possible

Pascal Siakam over 24.5 points- He’s going to need to score for Raps to win tonight

Julius Randle over 8.5 rebounds - He’s had at least 12 boards in four straight games

Jalen Brunson over 5.5 assists - He’s had five or fewer dimes in two straight so he’s due

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