NBA Wednesday Tips: Knicks and Nets set jostle to rule Empire State

It’s not got the lure of basketball’s Subway Series, but the battle of New York City’s hooping powers brings Big Apple bragging rights. Basketball expert Mark Woods previews Wednesday’s games.

Brooklyn Nets @ New York Knicks

Tipoff: 12.30am Thursday GMT 

It’s a rivalry that’s not really for the ages. A turf battle between neighbours that doesn’t need lines in the sand. The Knicks own New York. The Nets merely rent pockets of affection. Maybe it’s their past in the cross-river swamp of New Jersey that muddies the waters, but for Spike Lee and NYC’s hoi polloi there is only one team that counts.

At least in recent times, Brooklyn’s upstarts have fast tracked star power and been richer in the currency of victories. That train has switched direction on a dime. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are part of the Nets’ history, and since their departure they have been dropping like a stone – from contenders to chumps within a month.

And it’s the Knicks who have capitalised, overtaking their closest foes for fifth place in the NBA Eastern Conference heading into Wednesday night’s gathering at Madison Square Garden. In style too, with six consecutive victories dating back to before the All-Star break that has them seeking the potential to rise further and claim homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The streak was extended with a 109-94 thumping of Boston on Sunday for an eighth win in nine games, in which the Knicks have outscored opponents by an average margin of 10.2 points. Defensively strong throughout at a clip of 105.3 – holding three foes below 100 and only a loss to the 76ers and a high-scorer against the Jazz skewing the figures. Tom Thibodeau’s men have been ferocious on the perimeter, limiting opposition to 29% from three-point range.

That’s bad news for Brooklyn, who have remained one of the league’s better teams from deep but have been outscored by -6.9 in their last ten, winning only three times – a run that included a 124-106 road loss to the Knickerbockers. There’s currently terrific odds on the Nets to not make the playoffs at 4.3 – they’re now only 1.5 wins ahead of Miami in sixth following Tuesday’s loss to the Heat. 

Not only are New York hot favourites at 1.32, their steely defence will surely make it another tough evening for the city’s ‘Unfashionables’ in a game that could also slide below 222 total points at 1.92. 

Prediction: Knicks -5 @ 1.61 

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

Tipoff: 12.30am Thursday GMT 

Deposed from the number one seeding in the whole NBA by virtue of their defeat to the Knicks, the Celtics remain 4.7 favourites in the NBA Championship odds. Still, they could do with a bounceback win over one of their fellow rivals for East supremacy. 

That might not be straightforward as Cleveland have been victorious in the two previous meetings between these two – both of which were settled in overtime.

Boston is still rolling nicely, however, and they are an overwhelming 1.38 to see off the Cavs, who have hit a slump with three defeats out of four following the seven-game winning streak built just before All-Star. 

It’s defence that’s slipped. Aside from holding Toronto to 93 on Sunday, Cleveland’s three previous outings gave up an average of 122.3 – way above their 106.5 seasonal mark. Refreshed by four days off, there has been rare time to iron out the glitches.

The Celtics are still primed as a top-five offensive and defensive team but let’s not discount the Cavs’ ability to lock down in what is a good match-up. The visitors are 2.06 on a spread of +5.

Prediction: Under 219.5 points @ 1.91 

New Orleans Pelicans @ Portland Trail Blazers

Tipoff: 3am Thursday GMT

The Pelicans promised much but are flapping while going nowhere. They’ve flown to Portland off four ugly defeats in which their offense has generated a paltry 102.8 points per contest. 

The Trail Blazers, led by Damian Lillard, lost at Golden State on Tuesday. However, they are 17-14 at home. Although they are no defensive juggernaut, they should soar by New Orleans and overtake their visitors for tenth place in the West.

Prediction: Trail Blazers -4.5 @ 2.1 

NBA Wednesday Tips

Brooklyn Nets @ New York Knicks: Knicks -5 @ 1.61
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics:  Under 219.5 points @ 1.91
New Orleans Pelicans @ Portland Trail Blazers:  Trail Blazers -4.5 @ 2.1