A 10-game Friday night schedule puts plenty of NBA games on deck, but the matchups seemingly get better as the evening progresses. At 9 p.m. EST, the New York Knicks battle the Phoenix Suns in the desert in an inter-conference duel. These sides are both talented, albeit in different ways — New York remains loaded with star power, while Phoenix wins games with a tough, team-oriented mentality.
Here’s a Knicks vs. Suns prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday night’s game.
Knicks vs. Suns prediction, preview
New York Knicks
We know the story of the Knicks by now. At 24-13, they’re a threat to come out of the Eastern Conference and sit four games back of first place. After snapping a four-game losing streak on Wednesday, this group is looking to get back on the right foot and build momentum heading into a a three-game road trip down the West Coast.
New York averages 119.7 PPG (fifth) and holds opponents to 115.0 (12th), producing a +4.7 NETRTG that ranks eighth in the NBA. Results from Mike Brown’s first half a season at the helm of this roster are largely quite encouraging. While the team sits 24th in pace, they take the eighth-most shot attempts per game and seventh-most threes, also sitting fifth in rebounding and 10th in assists. Star Jalen Brunson’s 29.1 PPG are a career-best while also pitching in a team-high 6.3 assists as the driving force of the offense. Running mate Karl-Anthony Towns averages a 21.4-point, 11.4-rebound double-double, good for second in the league in boards per game. Two-way wings Mikal Bridges (16.0 PPG, 40.6% 3P%) and OG Anunoby (15.3 PPG, 4.6 REB) also make an impact on both sides of the court, while Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson both average double-digit points as well.
Josh Hart (ankle) remains out as a big loss, while Guerschon Yabusele (quad) is questionable.
Phoenix Suns
Looking at the home team, it’s still pretty surprising to see Phoenix staying afloat. Jalen Green, who the team received as the centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade, has played just two games and leaves Devin Booker as the only true star here. Yet the Suns remain 22-15 on the campaign, 7-3 across their last 10 games as well. Somehow, they’re firmly in the postseason mix as the midway point nears.
Year one under head coach Jordan Ott has proven fruitful thus far. The Suns hang their hat on defense, limiting opponents to 112.4 PPG (sixth) with the eighth-best DEFRTG in the Association. A league-best 10.6 steals per game help wreak havoc on that end. While ranked 22nd in pace, this group sits eighth in 3PA and 13th in FGA as the Suns average 114.8 PPG (21st) for a NETRTG of +2.4 (10th). Unsurprisingly, Devin Booker’s 25.4 PPG and 6.3 assists pace the rotation even despite a career-worst 29.6% clip from three-point range. It may feel wild to suggest this, but his co-star is none other than Dillon Brooks with 21.2 PPG in a career-best campaign after being traded in the aforementioned Durant deal. Beyond those two, Grayson Allen posts 15.7 PPG and Collin Gillespie scores 13.6 PPG as both bring standout spacing from beyond the arc. Mark Williams’ 8.3 rebounds a night are a team-high while he brings 12.4 PPG as well, and Royce O’Neale also scores double-digits.
On the injury report, Jamaree Bouyea (concussion protocol) is the only rotation player sidelined beyond Green.
Knicks vs. Suns pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Knicks as -1.5 on the road tonight with -125 odds on the Moneyline. The Suns are +105 ML underdogs with the game total set at 228.5 points. Betting splits show 63% of straight wagers on New York to win with 65% picking the over.
These are two quality teams going toe-to-toe tonight, and they operate with something of opposite philosophies. The Knicks are still quite good defensively, but they’ve leaned far more on offensive creation this season than in years past under the prior coaching staff. The Suns used to be an offense-first squad, but now look to slow the pace and muck things up on defense. It’s interesting to see those changes and how they’ve allowed each side to perform well overall, but there’s a reason only one can win.
Personally, I have New York coming out victorious in this game for one key reason. No, it’s not the star power in comparison to Phoenix’s roster, either. Instead, the rebounding battle is one the Knicks should dominate at fifth in REB% with superior talent in the frontcourt. Yes, the Suns fall 11th in the stat and realistically aren’t that far behind, but Towns is a tough matchup for any big man and should have his way in the paint tonight. Factor in that New York sits seventh in TS% as one of the league’s most efficient teams and that Phoenix falls all the way to 18th, and it seems the Knicks should make the most of their opportunities and capitalize on extra possessions off the glass. A straight Moneyline pick works here.
Top pick: NY Knicks ML (-125)
