The NBA’s second hottest team, the Denver Nuggets, will chase its 10 straight win tonight as it welcomes the Atlantic leading New York Knicks to the Pepsi Center. Start time in this evening’s East versus West clash between the Knicks and Nuggets is set for 10:30pm ET; the game will be broadcast live on ESPN. NBA Odds have Denver listed as a -8.5 against the spread home favorite and the Over/Under set at 207.5 points. New York is drawing +365 odds ($100 wins $365) to record its 17th road win of the season.
The Knicks kicked off their current five game Western Conference road swing on Monday night with a stop at the ORACLE Arena in Oakland. New York hardly showed up for the game, though, as the hosting Warriors blasted the sleep walking Knicks 92-63.
Golden State dominated the glass, securing a 59-42 rebounding edge, and it held New York to a pathetic 27.4 field goal percentage in the win. The Knicks even had trouble on their free shots as they connected on just 18 of their 28 attempts from the charity stripe.
New York’s ugly performance coupled with Denver’s red hot play, particularly at home (28-3 straight up and 22-9 against the spread), has the odds makers and betting public expecting another lopsided affair this evening.
The Nuggets notched their ninth straight win on Monday with a 108-93 thrashing of the Suns in Phoenix, but five of their last nine victories came at the Pepsi Center. Denver topped the Lakers, Thunder, Hawks, Clippers, and Timberwolves in those outings by an average of 13.4 points per game and it has not lost at home since January 18th.
Despite the Nuggets incredible play, the line here may be too steep. The Knicks, Monday’s game aside, are a good team and they own an above .500 record on the road. A New York victory seems unlikely, but Carmelo Anthony and company slipping inside that 8.5 point line does not.
Notable Trends: The Knicks are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games as a road dog with a total between 205 and 210 points. New York is also 6-3-1 against the spread in their last 10 games as a road dog with a spread between 8 and 10.5 points (all three ATS losses came against the Heat).
New York Knicks vs Denver Nuggets NBA Odds:
New York Knicks +8.5 (-110), Over 207.5 (-110), +365 (Moneyline)
Denver Nuggets -8.5 (-110), Under 207.5 (-110), -440 (Moneyline)
NBA Free Picks: New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets Betting
What NBA bettors need to know about New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets on Wednesday (3/16/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Vegas Runner with host Steve Fezzik.