NBA SO/UP Picks and Analysis for Tuesday, December 14: Warriors-Knicks, Suns-Blazers

classybuzzDecember 14, 2021

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The Warriors and Suns, the 2 finest groups within the NBA, take the courtroom Tuesday night time. Golden State is favored on the highway towards the Knicks as Stephen Curry chases down Ray Allen for first place on the all-time three-pointers record. Phoenix is a highway favourite as effectively towards the struggling Path Blazers.

SI host Robin Lundberg is that this week’s visitor host. Let’s get into the video games.

Season report: 41-37
Visitor pickers: 22-50

Check the Latest NBA Lines at SI Sportsbook

Golden State Warriors (22-5) vs. New York Knicks (12-15)

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Unfold: Warriors -4.5 (-110) | Knicks +4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Warriors (-200) | Knicks (+165)
Whole: Below 211.5 (-110) | Over 211.5 (-110)

Accidents: Warriors F Andre Iguodala—Out; Knicks F Obi Toppin—Out; Knicks G RJ Barrett—Out; Knicks G Alec Burks—Day-to-day

The Warriors narrowly beat the Pacers Monday night time in Indiana, and Stephen Curry practically broke the all-time three-pointers report. He’ll get one other strive on basketball’s largest stage: Madison Sq. Backyard. Golden State is 4-3 in its final seven video games, which, by its excessive requirements, counts as “struggling” after an 18-2 begin.

Golden State has the No. 3 scoring offense within the NBA, averaging 112.1 PPG. Curry is getting large contributions from Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole on offense, and Draymond Inexperienced is as dominant as ever on the league’s top-ranked protection.

New York is off to a 1-5 begin in December. Eradicating Kemba Walker from the lineup has seemingly created extra points than it brought on. The Knicks are 2-7 with out him and 10-8 with him. Julius Randle can be capturing a career-worst field-goal proportion and has been held beneath 10 factors thrice already.

With out Randle taking part in at his All-Star stage, N.Y. now not has a stout protection to fall again on. The Knicks are No. 17 in scoring protection (107.4 PPG) and rank twenty second in scoring offense (105.8 PPG). In a lot of their latest video games, the Knicks have not been aggressive, shedding by 15 to the Bucks, 20 towards the Pacers and by 14 to the Nuggets inside the final week.

With nothing backing this by any means, it is arduous to image the Warriors celebrating Curry making historical past on essentially the most well-known courtroom within the nation and shedding. Okay, now for the mathematical causes Golden State covers. The Warriors are 17-9-1 Towards the Unfold (ATS) this season, the second-best mark within the league. The Knicks are 11-16 ATS, the third-worst mark in basketball. New York is 5-9 at residence, and Golden State is 8-3 on the highway. The Warriors have misplaced just a few video games not too long ago, however the Knicks are in free fall. That is a simple cowl for the Dubs and ends in an enormous celebration at MSG.

Unfold choose: Warriors -4.5

The Warriors have one of the best protection within the NBA, and the Knicks have failed to attain 100 factors in back-to-back video games. Golden State additionally has a top-three scoring offense, although their scoring numbers have been down in the previous couple of weeks. Warriors video games go beneath 73.1% of the time; Knicks video games go beneath 55.6%.

Over/Below choose: Below 211.5

Curry, by his requirements, has been contained within the final three video games—26, 18 and 22 factors are all beneath his season common of 27. Who’s to say if the report is on his thoughts or opponents are actively making an attempt to keep away from the report being set towards them. Nevertheless, when he does break the report, seemingly sooner or later within the first half, the strain is off, and he can shoot freely. Curry went for 37 the final time he performed on the Backyard. Scoring 26 just isn’t a excessive bar for him to clear.

Prop: Stephen Curry Over 25.5 Factors

Visitor picker Robin Lundberg’s picks

I do not need to make this choose clearly caught up within the drama of Steph Curry breaking the three-point report at Madison Sq. Backyard as a result of there are causes to select the Knicks. Primarily as a result of the Warriors flew in as we speak and are on a back-to-back, to not point out that New York is determined for a win. Nevertheless, I’ve efficiently picked towards the Knicks amid their present regression, and they are going to be with out Obi Toppin and RJ Barrett. Additionally, the Knicks penchant for taking part in by way of slow-moving Julius Randle isolations ought to play proper into the fingers of the Warriors’ swarming protection. After which there’s Steph’s aptitude for the dramatic.

Unfold choose: Warriors -4.5

I may see the Warriors getting up early within the hype of getting Curry the report and then taking the foot off the gasoline a bit as the sport goes on. Additionally they could also be gassed come the second half. I already introduced up that I like their protection in a matchup towards the Knicks model of assault, and New York has been held beneath 100 factors in three of the final 5 contests, with an output of 102 being one of many exceptions. So I just like the beneath right here.

Over/Below choose: Below 211.5

Draymond has been very vocal concerning the circumstances of this sport. Provided that and the eye on this one, I wager he performs with slightly further power (and meaning rather a lot). Additionally, with the eye on Steph, Inexperienced could also be making numerous performs as an outlet for Curry and his common all-around influence.

Prop: Draymond Inexperienced over 21.5 factors plus rebounds plus assists

Photograph credit score: Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports activities

Phoenix Suns (21-5) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (11-16)

Time: 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Unfold: Suns -1.5 (-110) | Path Blazers +1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Suns (-118) | Path Blazers (+100)
Whole: Below 219.5 (-110) | Over 219.5 (-110)

Accidents: Suns C DeAndre Ayton—Day-to-day; Suns G Devin Booker—Out; Path Blazers G C.J. McCollum—Out; Path Blazers C Cody Zeller—Out

The Suns have slowed down a bit after their 18-game profitable streak. Within the final week, Phoenix misplaced to the Warriors and Clippers, each by double-digits, whereas Devin Booker stays sidelined with a hamstring damage. Phoenix has had loads of gamers step up in Booker’s absence, whereas Deandre Ayton and Frank Kaminsky have missed time. Eight Suns gamers common 10 or extra factors, together with McGee, a spot starter at heart.

Phoenix is within the prime 10 in scoring offense (110.8 PPG) and protection (104.7 PPG). The Suns have the third-best level differential within the league (+6.0), and they’ve fared effectively on the highway this season, going 9-3 outdoors of Arizona.

Portland is 2-8 in its final 10 and enters Tuesday on a five-game shedding streak that is worse than it sounds. The Blazers are shedding by a median of 17.2 factors throughout that stretch. Franchise turmoil and commerce rumors apart, the crew is solely not taking part in good basketball. Maybe it isn’t honest to take away the angst surrounding the crew from the equation, however the report speaks for itself.

Damian Lillard will all the time hold a crew aggressive on offense, however the crew is lacking C.J. McCollum. Portland’s Twenty fifth-ranked scoring protection (111.2) retains the crew from the success it has been recognized for in recent times.

Portland started the season dominant on its residence courtroom. That is modified in the previous couple of weeks. The Path Blazers misplaced by 31 at residence to the Spurs and then dropped their subsequent two video games on the Moda Heart. These two groups break up the season sequence 1-1 to date, however the Suns are in a a lot better place, even with out Booker. Phoenix is not notably good ATS (13-13), however Portland has the worst ATS report (10-17).

Unfold choose: Suns -1.5

Even of their latest, large residence losses, Portland scored higher than 110 factors in two of these three video games. The Suns have seen lower-scoring outputs in the previous couple of weeks however taking part in a shorthanded Path Blazers crew with a horrible protection is a good way to get proper. Boston got here into Portland on Dec. 4 and scored 145 factors. The Blazers are usually not defending their residence courtroom effectively, and Phoenix will take benefit.

Over/Below choose: Over 219.5

Paul’s season common (14.2 PPG) is greater than two full factors beneath this line. Plus, he is gone beneath it in six of his final seven video games, together with a nine-point outing in a loss to his former crew, the Clippers. I feel the Suns cowl simply, which will not necessitate Paul placing up numerous factors or taking part in large minutes. Give me the beneath, and I would not thoughts taking the over on his 9.5 assists, both.

Prop: Chris Paul Below 16.5 Factors

Visitor picker Robin Lundberg’s picks

I detest using two groups on back-to-backs, however as a normal rule of thumb, I choose with good groups and towards unhealthy ones (genius technique). The Phoenix Suns have solely misplaced two video games in a row as soon as this season, and that was in October. And I do consider the wheels have fallen off in Portland because the Blazers are on a five-game skid and have been blown out in most of them. Neither crew is at full well being on this one, however I’ll fall again on the physique of labor right here and go along with the Suns, regardless of Phoenix being simply 1-4 towards the unfold with no days off this yr.

Unfold choose: Suns -1.5

The Blazers have scored effectively at residence however are averaging solely 99 factors whole within the final 5 video games, and as beforehand talked about, the Suns are coming in on a back-to-back. Once you mix that with the absences of CJ McCollum, Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton, I see a lower-scoring sport than might sometimes be anticipated between these two groups.

Over/Below choose: Below 219.5

Somebody has to select up the slack on offense with Ayton and Booker out. And given the Blazers’ lack of defensive prowess general, I feel Bridges can recover from that quantity on exercise alone.