Two of the Eastern Conference’s top four teams square off as the New York Knicks (16-7) head north to face the Toronto Raptors (15-10) on Tuesday in the NBA’s Cup quarterfinals matchup.
New York is second in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Detroit Pistons on the young season. The Knicks enter this contest with a three-game winning streak, including Sunday’s six-point win at home against the Orlando Magic.
Toronto has fallen in the conference pecking order because of its three-game losing streak. The Raptors have lost five of their last six games, claiming only a win over the Portland Trailblazers since Thanksgiving Day.
Can the Raptors end their losing skid against the Knicks? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for Tuesday’s Eastern Conference showdown.
Toronto Raptors F Brandon Ingram UNDER 22.5 Points
Brandon Ingram is giving the Raptors everything they expected from him. After acquiring him this offseason, Ingram is averaging 21.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists during his debut year in Toronto. He’s been one reason the Raptors have been successful to start the year.
This is a no-brainer player prop wager for bettors. In their first meeting, New York held the forward to only 14 points in 32 minutes. Additionally, Ingram has eclipsed 22 points in only nine outings thus far, and he’s yet to do it in back-to-back games. After scoring 30 on Boston in his last outing, bettors should take the under on his player scoring prop for Tuesday’s game.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | Over 2.5 Threes | |
| Jalen Brunson | Under 2.5 Threes |
New York Knicks G Jalen Brunson OVER 2.5 3-Point Field Goals
Veteran guard Jalen Brunson has continued to be a scoring threat for the Knicks this season. The 6-foot-2 athlete is averaging 28.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game thus far, hitting on just over 47 percent of his field goals this season.
Brunson’s shooting has been spotty this season. He’s hit three or more trifectas in just four of his past 10 games. Ironically, he’s shooting better on the road this season, connecting on nearly 50 percent of his field goals away from Madison Square Garden. That’s why bettors should trust him to record at least three triples against the Raptors to cover this prop bet.
New York Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns UNDER 11.5 Rebounds
The Knicks sat Karl-Anthony Towns on Sunday, keeping the veteran big man on the bench due to his calf tightness. New York didn’t need the center’s stats – 22.5 points and 11.9 rebounds – to dispatch the Magic in that contest.
Towns is needed on Tuesday to combat Toronto’s lineup, however. In his previous outing against the team this year, the seven-footer scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his team’s win. Expect a similar stat line on Tuesday, which will keep him from covering his dozen rebound prop total.
Best Bet: Toronto (+4.5)
Toronto was 14-5 before Thanksgiving Day, contending for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Since then, a string of bad luck, close losses has plagued the NBA’s only Canadian team. Included in that is a 22-point loss to the Knicks on the road.
Why should Tuesday’s game be different? For one, this game isn’t in New York. Toronto is 8-5 at home while the Knicks are just 3-6 away from their friendly confines. Expect this contest to be close throughout, allowing the Raptors to cover the 4.5-point spread on Tuesday.
The smartest 5 minutes in betting
Get the week's best offers, line moves, and data-driven picks — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Join 240,000+ subscribers. 21+ only.
