New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Hornets: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/9/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Where to watch: BSSE-CHA, MSG

DraftKings: Knicks -4; Knicks -170, Hornets +145; O/U 225

FanDuel: Knicks -4; Knicks -180, Hornets +152; O/U 225

BetMGM: Knicks -4.5; Knicks -175, Hornets +145; O/U 224.5

Caesars: Knicks -4.5; Knicks -169, Hornets +143; O/U 224.5

Knicks: 12-13

Hornets: 7-18

The New York Knicks have suddenly found themselves playing the formula of basketball that I think a lot of people expected them to play this year. Now I understand two straight wins really doesn't do much, but in this context, the Knicks have gotten back-to-back quality wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks in the span of three days. Now there comes a caveat with this win over Atlanta. Hawks guard Dejounte Murray left the game with an injury and he's going to be out for the next few weeks. With Atlanta already down John Collins and then losing Murray, it was pretty much just Trae Young and that was about it.

 

But for New York to not only get the victory against Cleveland and follow that up with beating Atlanta, the next suddenly have two good wins under their belt when it seemed like they couldn't win anything to save their lives over the last 10 games when they were losing six of their last eight. The Knicks also have not been a great spread team over the last 10 going 4-5-1 against the spread. But if you want to talk about a dominant performance from New York, this would be the one that you would anticipate. Because on this night, Jalen Brunson shot just two of 14 from the floor and finish with eight points. This was a night for Julius Randle to impose his will, in which he did so with 34 points and 17 rebounds. It was just a clinic from the former All-Star.

 

Funny enough, the under has cashed in the Knicks’ last four games. defensively is going to be the key going forward for New York especially when not all the stars are playing up to their potential. But for this one game, I would not put it solely on Atlanta losing another star player. Randall dominated that game and New York has something going right now.

Speaking of injuries, this is one team that you certainly hoped that injuries would not hit them hard but they have. The Charlotte Hornets are trying their hardest. What Steve Clifford has been able to do as coach to rally this team without its star point guard, its best wing player, and a myriad of injuries in between, Charlotte is playing extremely tough and is making things very interesting on the books. The Hornets are 6-2 in their last eight against the spread, including covering their last two despite losing by two against the Los Angeles Clippers and then losing by 6 in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

 

The only problem right now with Charlotte is there isn't enough depth to get them through this. The starters are playing their tails off. Kelly Oubre has continued to be an amazing pickup for that group after he scored 28 points in 40 minutes of action. Terry Rozier continues to be a steady hand on that offense after scoring 29 points. But imagine what this team could do if LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward were available. If this team had those two at full health right now, Charlotte would absolutely be contending for a playoff spot. They haven't even been able to get the services of Dennis Smith Jr., who has been a tremendous pickup for them when Ball was hurt.

 

Charlotte has been a very good spread team and the recent results indicate that that is very much the case. The Hornets are 6-0-1 against the spread in their last seven following a straight up loss. They might not be the most talented team when hammered with injuries, but the Hornets are playing hard and you don't want that if you are a New York team that is still trying to figure out its identity.

 

The Knicks are laying four points in this one and quite frankly they should win this game by at least three possessions. But there is something about this Charlotte team that I'm not sure when they're going to run out of gas, but they are playing well enough to where I could see them not just finding a way to cover, but finding a way to win this game. Hornets by 2

Knicks are 11-2 ATS on the road after a blowout win by 15 or more the last 3 seasons.

Hornets are 13-4 ATS in December the last 2 seasons.

Hornets are 38-23 ATS after revenging a loss the last 2 seasons.

PG: Jalen Brunson

SG: Quentin Grimes

SF: RJ Barrett

PF: Julius Randle

C: Mitchell Robinson

PG: Terry Rozier

SG: Kelly Oubre Jr.

SF: Jalen McDaniels

PF: P.J. Washington

C: Mason Plumlee

Knicks: Obi Toppin (knee, out)

Hornets: LaMelo Ball (ankle, out), Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle, out), Mark Williams (ankle, out), Gordon Hayward (shoulder, out)