by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Nov 18, 2022
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Where to watch: ESPN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Warriors -7
FanDuel: Warriors -7
BetMGM: Warriors -6.5
Caesars: Warriors -7
Season record
Knicks: 8-7
Warriors: 6-9
What a thrilling start to the NBA season, and it's time to get your picks in for what should be an enticing season. A lot of new faces in new places already making an impact, and our champion handicappers are already starting to take notice. Look at our own Jack Banks off to a 3-0-0 start in the NBA this week. Nelly's Sports is also at 4-0-0 while Jim Feist has also cashed on his first two of the year. As the season progresses, you know we're going to be in a position to deliver you the best analysis and picks that one can have in this market. Make sure you check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to find all of our handicappers' selections, comprehensive previews, and more!
Knicks - Warriors preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Knicks: won 106-103 at Nuggets on Wednesday
Warriors: lost 130-119 at Suns on Wednesday
The Golden State Warriors are not playing like the defending NBA champions. That much is certain to start the year. The Warriors haven’t looked like the defensive juggernaut that turned that side into buckets the other way that we’re accustomed to. Maybe they can get back on track Friday at home against the New York Knicks.
The Golden State Warriors are not playing like the defending NBA champions. That much is certain to start the year. The Warriors haven’t looked like the defensive juggernaut that turned that side into buckets the other way that we’re accustomed to. Maybe they can get back on track Friday at home against the New York Knicks.
While we are more than likely going to spend a good portion of that time hearing about how the Knicks almost had Steph Curry years ago for the 1 millionth time, we might have to at least revel in the greatness that is Curry with him coming off a 50-point effort in a 130-119 loss to the Phoenix Suns earlier this week.
If there’s anything that can be certain regarding the Warriors, they know how to win at home. They’ve won five straight and six of seven at Chase Center, but an absurd 0-8 on the road as evidence of their loss to the Suns.
"That's what being a coach is about," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "It's not just about drawing up a play. It's about really getting to know your players, building relationships with them, trying to give them a vision that they can collectively shoot for. Clearly, I have failed at that to this point this year.
"So I have to do a better job, and I've gotta reach these guys, and we've gotta pull them together, and that's what we're gonna do."
Here’s what I would attribute that to: The Warriors have gotten back to playing a lot of basketball and they were tired after another long playoff run. These guys aren’t spring chickens anymore. As much as it’d be easy to ask Steph, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to keep sipping from the Fountain of Youth and dominate worlds, it’s still early and it’s about getting the young guys to continue to buy in.
If that’s what it takes to keep winning at home and eventually get through the dry spell, that’s what needs to happen. And it’s not like the Knicks are a lock to figure out what they’re doing. They’re off to a respectable 8-7 start after defeating the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets in back-to-back nights this week, the latter being a 106-103 win in Denver, but the Nuggets didn’t have two-time MVP Nikola Jokic in the lineup.
Julius Randle had 34 points in the win, and Jalen Brunson had 21 points.
“Julius Randle and Julius Randle,” Brunson said of the forward who also came up with a diving steal and feed to Brunson for a dunk in New York's frantic finish. “When Julius is doing that, it's big-time and we all feed off that.”
The Knicks are still that weird team where after signing Brunson – who is having a solid year so far for the Knicks – they still might not have the depth to be a good team in the East. The jury is still out, and the Warriors will expose that in this one.
Prediction
The Warriors are still a good team. They’re still the champs. They’re at home. This is the perfect opportunity to get back on track. The fact they’re 0-8 shows they’ve been away from home more than they’ve played. Get the champs to Chase Center and let them work. Warriors by 14
Betting trends
Knicks are 29-15 ATS when playing 6 games or more in 10 days the last 3 seasons.
Knicks are 20-7 ATS off 2 straight upset wins as a road underdog since 1996.
Warriors are 47-30 ATS as a home favorite the last 3 seasons.
Warriors are 11-1 ATS in home games in November the last 2 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Knicks:
PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Cam Reddish
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Obi Toppin
Warriors:
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Draymond Green
C: Kevon Looney
Key Injuries
Knicks: Mitchell Robinson (knee, doubtful)
Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga (illness, questionable), Andre Iguodala (out)
Statistical leaders
Knicks:
Points: Julius Randle -- 21.3
Rebounds: Julius Randle -- 8.9
Assists: Jalen Brunson -- 6.9
Warriors:
Points: Steph Curry -- 32.8
Rebounds: Kevon Looney -- 6.9
Assists: Draymond Green -- 6.7
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this New York Knicks - Golden State Warriors prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
