The New York Knicks (22-9) and New Orleans Pelicans (8-25) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. The game will be broadcast live on Gulf Coast Sports.
The Knicks are 8.5-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread (Knicks -8.5), with the over/under set at 246.5 total points. New York is a -370 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +290 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Knicks vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 29.
Knicks vs Pelicans Prediction
- Knicks vs Pelicans pick: Karl Anthony-Towns Over 36.5 Points + Rebounds (-115)
My Pelicans vs Knicks best bet is on Karl Anthony-Towns to record over 36.5 points and rebounds, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Knicks vs Pelicans Odds
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 246.5 -110o / -110u | -370 |
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 246.5 -110o / -110u | +290 |
Knicks vs Pelicans NBA Preview
I’m backing Karl-Anthony Towns over 36.5 points + rebounds, and it’s a number that feels a bit light given the context of this game.
The biggest factor for the Knicks tonight is personnel.
Mitchell Robinson is out, and Josh Hart is also not expected to play, which should open up more offensive and rebounding responsibility for KAT. On top of that, this is a matchup the Pelicans have consistently struggled with all season.
New Orleans has been getting absolutely crushed by opposing centers lately. The recent production allowed at the position is hard to ignore: Mark Williams went for 37 points + rebounds, Anthony Davis put up 52, Alperen Şengun had 39, and even Nic Claxton reached 25.
The Pelicans are horrible in the restricted area, and they’re also giving up three-point looks, which aligns perfectly with where Towns does his damage offensively.
From a rebounding standpoint, New Orleans hasn’t been strong either, allowing a high volume of boards to centers throughout the season.
When you look at their personnel, it makes sense: Zion Williamson isn’t an elite rebounder, and they’re relying on a rookie like Dereck Queen.
All of this points to KAT having a lot of runway in this spot, both as a scorer and on the glass. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this line closer to the 36.5 line or even 37.5.
Knicks vs Pelicans Betting Prediction
- Karl Anthony-Towns Over 36.5 Points + Rebounds (-115)
