Locks
NBA – Raptors @ Knicks -2.5 (-110): 12:00 PM CT on ESPN
Let’s get back on the New York Knicks train here against a Toronto Raptors team that’s admittedly a little tough to figure out.
Toronto’s current 4-game win streak has all come at home and against suspect competition, so a trip to MSG is likely to worsen their 12-17 road ATS record. But that win streak does appear to be holding down this number, as anyone before the season would’ve confidently told you that the Raptors are a better team than the Knicks.
Trust in Tom Thibodeau here. He has this team playing its best basketball, with their 8-game win streak and 10-game cover streak just continuing to roll on (one of those was a home win over Toronto two weeks ago). It hasn’t always been pretty, with some close calls and OT wins, but the Knicks have had a few days off and I’m ready to back them here again.
Degenerates
NBA – Rockets @ Nuggets -13 (-110): 9:00 PM CT on Altitude Sports
With the Denver Nuggets on a back-to-back, I think this number is being held down lower than it should be, especially against the worst ATS team in the league.
Despite their embarrassing loss against the Golden State Warriors last night, Denver has been rolling on the offensive end lately and has owned the Houston Rockets this season: 2-0 straight up and ATS with 13- and 29-point wins. Coming off a poor offensive performance against the Warriors, I’d expect Denver to be in a positive regression spot, especially against a Rockets team that’s towards the bottom of the league in every major defensive statistical category.
Also important to note is that Christian Wood and John Wall are expected to miss this game, which adds to the laundry list of Rockets injuries. And the ragtag collection of G-Leaguers Houston trots out should be ripe pickings for an angry Nuggets team. It’s a big number for the NBA, but I’ll lay it given the situational spot and player absences.
Tiny Nick is 230-147 ATS (+75.1 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage.
Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.
