New York at Brooklyn

The oddsmakers have taken notice of the improved Knicks team. They were a great buy early as they were under the radar, covering eight of their first nine. That value has flipped as the Knicks just 5-6 against the line in their last 11, despite winning six of their last seven. The Nets have a talented team for the first time in several years. Brook Lopez is a game-time decision and if he gets some minutes here he blocks the lane for the Nets and the Knicks are not a very patient team, and will end up taking long jump shots. That is exactly what happened in the first matchup with the Knicks firing up 21 from deep connecting on only 6. The Nets are at their best off of one day of rest where they have failed to cover just one of their last 10. This is an intense rivalry, and the Nets held the Knicks to a 10-season low of 89 points in their last matchup. I expect them to employ the same physical tactics on the defensive end again here and look for another low-scoring game. The Nets have brought the defense off of one day of rest at 5-0-1 to the UNDER off a single day of rest. This physical rivalry has also brought the money on the total, as four of the last five meetings went UNDER. Play on Brooklyn and take the UNDER in this one.