Two of the biggest brands in basketball are set to clash tonight in Las Vegas. The Warriors have been solid in Summer League, winning two of their three games. It hasn’t been as easy for the Knicks, who have a limited amount of high-end prospects taking the floor. Still, the defending champs have a handful of intriguing names expected to suit up this evening.
The Warriors enter as 7.5-point favorites with -265 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Knicks are +215 underdogs, with the game total set at 172.5 points. Let’s dive into a preview, pick and prediction for today’s matchup.
Warriors vs. Knicks preview, prediction
It’s rare when the Warriors have a lottery pick, but that was the case during the 2026 NBA Draft. Instead of going for upside, the front office prioritized finding an instant contributor to help out Steph Curry and company. Therefore, it’s no surprise Golden State selected Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th overall pick. The former Michigan standout is a big-game player; look no further than his NCAA Tournament heroics back in March. His talent has been on full display during Summer League, averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists over three games. Most impressive, he’s gone 13-for-21 from three-point range (62%).
Granted, this Warriors group is far from a one-man show. Gonzaga’s Graham Ike has been a factor down low, while guards LJ Cryer and Will Richard have been a solid source of points. It’s no coincidence that Golden State’s two Summer League victories both came by double-digit margins. To boot, the team scored over 100 points in each win. Unsurprisingly, that was due in large part to a three-point heavy approach. The Dubs have even experimented with Lendeborg as a small-ball 5 in order to space the floor even further.
It’s been a mixed bag for the Knicks during Summer League. Despite picking up a win against the Pistons on Monday, the team was blown out in each of their two losses. Most troubling, the offense has looked downright stagnant in Vegas so far. The unofficial leader of this squad is Mo Diawarra, a former second-round pick that carved out a decent role with the champs last season. However, he didn’t take the floor during the victory over Detroit; his Summer League tenure may have come to an end. That leaves the Knicks bereft of any players with NBA experience, other than two-time NBA champion Dillon Jones.
Still, it’s not a hopeless cause tonight for the Knicks. A pair of second-rounders have shown some flashes over the past week. 39tth overall pick Jack Kayil, from Germany, is putting up 15.5 points over two games. Tyler Nickel has been a pleasant surprise as well, notching 14.3 points per game while shooting 44.8% from three-point range. To boot, the team has managed to play solid defense, even if the other end of the floor needs some work. The Nets are the only one of New York’s three opponents to record more than 80 points.
Warriors vs. Knicks pick, best bet
Despite a few flashes from Kayil and Nickel, there isn’t much on this Knicks roster at the moment. In comparison, the Warriors have the clear-cut best player on the court in Lendeborg. Golden State’s three-ball heavy approach does add a dose of variance to the mix. However, that could help the Dubs push out to a hefty lead against this offensively-challenged New York club.
