Knicks vs. Suns Prediction, Picks for Friday, Dec. 15
Here's everything you need to know about Knicks vs. Suns on Friday, Dec. 15 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.
The New York Knicks travel to Phoenix for the second game of a five-game road trip.
Both the Knicks and Suns are coming off disappointing losses, so this will be a test to see which team can right the ship on Friday night.
Let's get to our Knicks vs. Suns prediction and pick.
Knicks vs. Suns Prediction
Pick: Kevin Durant Over 33.5 Points + Rebounds
Knicks Betting Outlook
The Knicks lost the first game of their road trip to the struggling Utah Jazz. That game was Lauri Markkanen’s first appearance after a lengthy injury absence, but the Knicks should have beaten the Jazz regardless — especially considering their upcoming schedule.
After the game against Phoenix, the Knicks fly to Los Angeles for games against the Clippers and Lakers. They then head to Brooklyn to face the Nets. When they finally return home, they play two games against the Milwaukee Bucks before hitting the road again for games against the Thunder, Magic and Pacers to finish out the month of December.
It might be a good time to bet the Knicks under 45.5 wins, if for no other reason than that number will likely get lower by January and then you can shoot for a middle on the over when Mitchell Robinson returns from ankle surgery.
Without Robinson, the Knicks lose the best offensive rebounder in the league, and a significant advantage on the glass. The Knicks are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, while the Suns are 23rd in Defensive Rebound Percentage, per NBA Advanced Stats.
Suns Betting Outlook
The debut of the Suns' big three didn’t go as planned and revealed a few things about this team that have been cause for pause all season. Devin Booker (27 points) and Kevin Durant (34 points, six rebounds, 12 assists) were excellent, but it wasn’t Bradley Beal who acted as the third star. Beal had a surprisingly quiet 14 points and four assists, but Jusuf Nurkic had a monster game, capitalizing on Brooklyn’s lack of size and racking up 15 points and 22 rebounds.
A big takeaway was the sheer chasm between the starter and bench minutes for Phoenix, and that’s something that has been a concern all season. Even without a squad at full strength, the Suns are seventh in Net Rating in starter minutes (+3.6) and 22nd for their bench (-1.9). Their depth should improve when Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen return, but the Suns have a glaring weakness with their second unit that will make it tougher on the top guys throughout the season.
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Knicks vs. Suns Picks, Odds
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+5 | 230.5 -110/-110 | +164 |
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-5 | 230.5 -110/-110 | -198 |
I mentioned New York's rebounding edge, but a big part of that edge comes from Robinson’s length and athleticism. His absence should free up some extra boards for Phoenix, and I’m eyeing Durant.
However, he’s also been scoring. I like him to go over his 33.5 Points + Rebounds, giving us plenty of wiggle room. Durant has cleared 34+ in 13 of his past 16 games and in three straight against the Knicks. He’s also averaging 37.3 Points + Rebounds on the season. Even with Beal in the lineup, Durant should see plenty of opportunities. I like this play up to 34.5 (-120).
