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The Lakers might be the best team in the NBA right now.
Los Angeles has been flexing its muscles despite losing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura last week, having won seven straight games and four against current playoff teams.
The Lakers are doing this while the Knicks are seemingly incapable of beating elite teams, boasting a horrific 0-7 record against the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers.
If you add the budding title-contending Lakers to that list, they are 0-8 this season against the top-two seeds in both conferences, and a loss Thursday would again be concerning.
Oddsmakers are not bullish on the Knicks going into Crypto.com Arena on Thursday and coming out with a win, as they opened at 2.5-point underdogs and have been bet down to 4.5 by early Thursday.
Knicks vs. Lakers odds
TeamSpreadMoneylineTotalKnicks+4.5 (-115)+145Over 229.5 (-105)Lakers-4.5 (-105)-75Under 229.5 (-115)Odds provided by BetMGM
Knicks vs. Lakers prediction
Hachimura is already listed out for Thursday’s game, though Reaves returns for the Lakers, likely part of the reason for the spread moving two points.
Karl Anthony-Towns will also be out there for the Knicks after he missed their last game at home to the Warriors.
In theory, the Knicks match up really well with the Lakers, considering Los Angeles does not really have a center and is missing one of their top perimeter shooters.
But this is a Knicks team that is playing some of its worst basketball of the season.
Even in games that they win, they play on thin margins.
The Knicks are just 28-32-1 against the spread (ATS) this season despite owning a 40-21 record.
Thursday’s game will be a fascinating matchup, as the Knicks have OG Anunoby and Mikail Bridges to throw at LeBron James and Luka Doncic from a defensive perspective.
Fox Sports’ gambling analyst Jason McIntyre points out that the Lakers dominate first quarters, starting the game with Doncic and James on the floor for an extended period.
They are 8-2 ATS in the first quarter in their past 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are 8-21 ATS in the first quarter on the road this season and 4-6 in their last 10.
This is just a horrific trend for the Knicks, as they consistently put themselves in massive holes and behind the eight ball from the opening tip.
Eventually, the Knicks grind their players down in the second half by forcing them to play massive minutes against second units to bring them back into games and even potential victories.
Betting on the NBA?
Bur we can’t ignore those first quarter numbers.
Back the Lakers in the first quarter as 1.5-point favorites at FanDuel and enjoy the rest of what I expect to be a defense stalemate throughout.
PICK: Lakers first quarter spread -1.5 (-108, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
