The New York Knicks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in New York. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks are 4.5-point underdogs on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total for this game set at O/U 223.5 points. Let’s get into my preview, prediction and pick for this Knicks vs. Thunder game.
Knicks vs. Thunder prediction, preview
The Knicks are coming off a run of great wins over good opponents. They have won five of their last six games, including beating two of the top-three teams in the Western Conference, the Spurs and Rockets. Now they get the chance to complete the trifecta against the best team in the West and the defending NBA champions. The Knicks have found a good balance over the past few weeks. They have a top-10 scorer in the league, Jalen Brunson, the NBA’s second-leading rebounder, Karl-Anthony Towns, and a top-10 wing defender, OG Anunoby. They also have role players like Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges who can do it all, while also bringing a high-level rebounder and rim defender off the bench, Mitchell Robinson. New York is just 1.5 games behind the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East and will keep pushing down the stretch to get that crucial home-court advantage.
The Thunder were the best team in the NBA last season, and nothing has changed this season. They have the best record in the league and lead the league in net rating by a decent margin. The Thunder are the best defensive team in the NBA and also have the NBA’s second-leading scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to get them late-game buckets. There is a minor concern about the health of the reigning MVP. He missed last night’s game against the Bulls due to the abdominal injury that caused him to miss a few games in February. However, it is believed that he was held out of the first night of a back-to-back so that he would be fresh for this more important game against the Knicks.
Knicks vs. Thunder pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is on under 223.5 points. The Knicks have found themselves defensively in the new year. From the start of the season through the end of December, the Knicks were allowing 114.6 points per game. Since the start of 2026, New York has allowed just 106.6 points per game. In three straight games, the group has given up fewer than 100 points. Meanwhile, the Thunder lead the NBA in defensive rating and rank second in points per game allowed. This is the second night of a back-to-back for both teams, so they could be looking to play at a slower pace than normal if their legs aren’t completely fresh. This game could also have a playoff-type atmosphere at Madison Square Garden which could help lead to a lower-scoring outcome.
These teams should stay under this total in what should be a great game.
