In the aftermath of a stunning November finale that saw the Toronto Raptors clinch a remarkable victory over the Phoenix Suns, the team now sets its sights on starting the new month with a win. Their next challenge unfolds on their home court against the New York Knicks on Friday night.
The Knicks are set to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back schedule following a hard-fought victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. They currently hold a record of 11 wins and seven losses and are in the midst of a two-game winning streak. New York has seven wins in its last 10 contests.
Bet on Knicks vs. Raptors
NYK +2.5
TOR -2.5
Let’s take a look at the odds for both teams.
Knicks vs. Raptors odds
| Knicks Moneyline Odds | +115 |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | -135 |
| Over/Under | 218 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Raptors -2.5 (-110) |
| Time/Date | Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN3/4 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Knicks (11-7 SU, 9-7-2 ATS, 8-10 o/u)
In a tightly contested match, the Knicks emerged victorious over the Pistons with a final score of 118-112. Jalen Brunson delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing his all-around skills with an impressive stat line of 42 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Brunson’s scoring efficiency was noteworthy, shooting at a 13-for-24 (54.2%) clip from the field and an impressive 7-for-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc. Remarkably, this marks Brunson’s fourth game with 30 or more points in the last seven outings.
Julius Randle complemented the effort with a double-double, contributing 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists on 57.1% shooting, including two successful three-pointers. Both Brunson and Randle played pivotal roles, carrying the team on their shoulders and ultimately securing the win.
The Raptors rank fifth in conceding the fewest points and are giving up the fifth-lowest number of made three-pointers to opposing point guards. Similarly, they allow the fifth-fewest points and the sixth-fewest assists to shooting guards. In the previous matchup against the Raptors, Phoenix Suns’ star Devin Booker struggled, managing only eight points on a dismal 2-of-12 (16.7%) shooting, while going 0-fpr-4 from beyond the arc. This performance is a significant departure from Booker’s season averages of 27.3 points and 8.5 assists per game. This defensive prowess may pose challenges for Brunson and Quentin Grimes.
On the flip side, the Raptors present a mixed bag for other positions. They rank third in allowing the least rebounds and the fourth- fewest assists to power forwards, potentially impacting Randle’s performance. However, the Raptors allow the seventh-most points to small forwards and the fifth-most assists to centres, creating a favourable scenario for players like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson.
About the Raptors (9-10 SU, 11-8 ATS, 9-10 o/u)
On Wednesday evening, the Raptors brought an end to the Suns’ impressive seven-game winning streak, securing a 112-105 victory. The defining moment of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter, when Scottie Barnes delivered a pivotal performance that ultimately sealed the win for the Raptors.
Barnes has undeniably established himself as one of the premier fourth-quarter performers this season, boasting an average of 7.1 points per game. His remarkable contributions place him among the top 10 in total points in the fourth, surpassing notable names like Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant. Against the Suns, Barnes showcased his clutch factor with an impressive fourth-quarter display, scoring 12 points and five rebounds. He led the team with an outstanding stat line of 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks on 46.7% shooting (7-of-15).
Pascal Siakam closely followed with a strong start, contributing nine points in the first quarter and concluding the game with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal on 42.9% shooting (9-of-21).
Noteworthy performances also came from Dennis Schroder, who despite a challenging shooting night at 3-for-11 (27.3%), managed to dish out 12 assists. O.G. Anunoby made his presence felt with 13 points, three made threes, three steals, and a block. Additionally, Precious Achiuwa recorded an impressive double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, accompanied by two steals in just 18 minutes of play.
Against the Knicks, there aren’t many favourable matchups. The Knicks allow the sixth-least points to point guards, power forwards, and centres. This matchup is not looking advantageous for Schroder, Siakam and Jakob Poeltl. However, a glimmer of opportunity arises as the Knicks exhibit vulnerabilities in defending shooting guards, allowing the fourth-highest points and the second-highest number of made three-pointers. On Thursday, Killian Hayes scored a season-high 23 points on 10-of-13 (76.9%) shooting for the Pistons. Anunoby stands to benefit from this matchup, having consistently scored in double digits and made at least two three-pointers in the last four games, presenting a favourable outlook for his offensive contributions.
O.G. Anunoby over 13.5 points
-110
Injury concerns
The Knicks have a clean injury report, while the Raptors will still be without centre Christian Koloko due to a longstanding respiratory issue.
Betting trends
- The Raptors are 12-1 SU in the past 13 meetings with the Knicks in Toronto.
- The over is 5-1 in the past six meetings between the teams.
- The Knicks are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
- Toronto has played under the total in three straight games.
Player prop trends
- Scottie has recorded over 2.5 steals + blocks in five of his last six games. He is averaging 2.9 steals + blocks this season and his line is +120 to record over 2.5 steals + blocks on Friday.
- Brunson has recorded at least six assists in seven of his last eight games. His line is +100 to record over 5.5 assists.
- Randle has recorded five assists or more in eight of his last 10 games. He is averaging 5.3 assists per game this season and his line is -115 to record over 4.5 assists.
Wagers to consider
- SGP: Raptors moneyline; Anunoby over 13.5 points; Anunoby over 1.5 threes: +240. The Raptors are coming off a win against one of the top teams in the league, they are the more rested team as the Knicks are on their second night of a back-to-back and the Raptors are on home court. All these factors favour the Raptors and Anunoby is in a good position to clear his over on points and threes made.
- Randle over 9.5 rebounds: +105. Although he has an unfavourable matchup against the Raptors, it is definitely something to consider as he has grabbed 30 rebounds in the last two games and is averaging over 10 rebounds per game.
