New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs Picks and Predictions December 25th 2024

New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs December 25th 2024

At 12:00 ET, the Knicks will host the Spurs in a non-conference matchup. New York is currently favored by 9.5 points and has won four straight games. The over/under line for this game is currently sitting at 224 points.

San Antonio is 15-14 this season and currently sits in 9th place in the Western Conference. The Knicks are 19-10 and are currently in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference.

Spurs vs Knicks Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
• Where: New York at Madison Square Garden
• Date: Wednesday, December 25th
• Betting Odds NY -9.5, SA +323 | NY -417 O/U 224

The Spurs Can Win If…

San Antonio’s season record dropped to 15-14 after a 111-106 road loss to the 76ers on Monday. The Spurs were +5.5 point underdogs and covered the spread, losing by just five points. The total score of 217 points narrowly missed the over/under line of 217.5.

Philadelphia’s 12-0 run, which extended their lead from 64-58 to 76-58, was a key moment in the game. San Antonio fought back, outscoring the 76ers 31-27 in the 4th quarter, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

In their 111-106 loss to the 76ers, the Spurs hit 15 threes at a 33.3% clip, with an overall field goal percentage of 45.7%. Victor Wembanyama led the way, making 6 threes at 46.2% and finishing with 26 points and 9 rebounds.

Stephon Castle contributed 17 points, 13 of which came in the 3rd quarter. Julian Champagnie scored all 15 of his points in the 4th, while Wembanyama added 11 in the 3rd and 6 more in the final period.

The Spurs’ defense started strong, holding the 76ers to just 19 points in the 1st quarter, but they gave up 36 points in the 3rd, contributing to their 111-106 loss. San Antonio allowed Philadelphia to shoot 41% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the 76ers made 16 threes at a 36% clip. The Spurs sent Philadelphia to the line 23 times, where they made 17 free throws. San Antonio finished with 39 defensive rebounds, 4 steals, and 12 blocks.

• Across their last five road contests, San Antonio has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2, while averaging 114 points per game.
• Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, San Antonio has an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 0-3 straight up.
• Over their last five games, the Spurs have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Knicks Can Win If…

The Knicks improved to 19-10 on the season with a 139-125 win over the Raptors on Monday. New York, favored by 13.5 points, covered the spread at home. The game’s total points reached 264, well over the 227.5-point line.

A key moment came when the Knicks went on a 10-0 run, extending their lead from 37-34 to 47-34. They dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters, outscoring Toronto 81-54, and entered the 4th quarter with a 111-82 lead. The Raptors outscored the Knicks 43-28 in the final period, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

The Knicks’ offense was firing on all cylinders in their 139-125 win over the Raptors, shooting 59.3% from the field and hitting 17 threes at a 45.9% clip. OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns both scored 31 points, with Anunoby adding 16 of those in the 3rd quarter.

Cameron Payne also contributed 4 threes, finishing with 19 points, 11 of which came in the 2nd quarter. Anunoby connected on 4 threes as well, shooting 66.7% from deep, while Towns shot 73.3% overall.

Despite giving up 125 points, the Knicks managed to win on Monday, thanks to a strong defensive effort in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed just 24 points. However, they struggled in the 4th, giving up 43 points. Overall, the Raptors shot 54% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Knicks limited the Raptors to 11 made threes on 39% shooting. New York also sent Toronto to the line 37 times, where they hit 30 free throws. The Knicks gave up 4 offensive rebounds while recording 9 steals.

• New York has played well in their previous three home games, going 3-0 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 112 points per game while allowing 97. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-0.
• New York has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 3-0 SU and 3-0 ATS in their last three games.
• In their last three games, the Knicks have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +9.5, the Spurs is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 224, and our model predicts the Spurs and Knicks to score a combined 267 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Knicks Face Spurs and Victor Wembanyama in Christmas Showdown

The New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day in a highly anticipated matchup featuring the surging Knicks and second-year sensation Victor Wembanyama.

Knicks on a Hot Streak

The Knicks (21-10) enter the holiday game riding a four-game winning streak and have gone 9-2 since Nov. 29, climbing to third place in the Eastern Conference.

Their recent success reflects a balanced offensive approach. In Monday’s 139-125 win over the Toronto Raptors, both Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby scored 31 points, showcasing the team’s depth.

Josh Hart praised the team’s current chemistry:

“It’s great vibes right now. We’ve just got to make sure we continue to bring that to the game.”

This balance has become a hallmark of the Knicks’ play, as five different players have led or shared the team lead in scoring during the past 11 games. Towns, acquired from Minnesota in October, has been particularly consistent, scoring 20 or more points in seven of those contests.

Wembanyama and Spurs Look to Rebound

Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ (15-15) electrifying 7-foot-3 superstar, will play at Madison Square Garden for just the second time in his career. While his first visit last season saw him struggle with 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting, he delivered a monster performance against the Knicks in San Antonio on March 29, posting 40 points and 20 rebounds in a thrilling 130-126 overtime win.

Wembanyama comes into the matchup fresh off a strong week in which he was named Western Conference Player of the Week, highlighted by a 26-point, nine-rebound, eight-block effort in Monday’s narrow 111-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite the loss, Wembanyama’s impact continues to elevate San Antonio, which has won four of its last six games. The Spurs sit ninth in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games out of a guaranteed playoff spot.

Tre Jones spoke highly of Wembanyama’s influence:

“He has helped put us in a lot of cool positions, especially this year.”

Key Matchups

For the Knicks:

• Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby: The duo must continue to lead the Knicks offensively, especially with Wembanyama anchoring the Spurs’ defense.
• Jalen Brunson: His ability to control the pace and capitalize on mismatches will be critical against the Spurs’ young lineup.

For the Spurs:

• Victor Wembanyama: Wembanyama’s versatility will be on full display as he aims to dominate on both ends of the court.
• Tre Jones: Jones will need to facilitate effectively to help San Antonio’s role players step up against New York’s balanced attack.

Historical Context

The Knicks lead the NBA in Christmas Day appearances with 57, sporting a 24-32 record. Last year, they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 129-122 on the holiday.

The Spurs, meanwhile, are playing on Christmas for the first time since 2016, when they defeated the Chicago Bulls 119-100 to improve to 6-5 on the holiday.

Who will dominate the court? Find out in NBA Scoring Leader Odds & Predictions!

Outlook

This Christmas Day showdown pits the Knicks’ balanced roster against the generational talent of Wembanyama. New York’s recent surge and home-court advantage may give them an edge, but Wembanyama’s ability to dominate could keep the game competitive.