- What: NBA Regular Season Game
- When: January 10, 2025
- Who: OKC Thunder vs. New York Knicks
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Madison Square Garden (NYC, New York)
The highly anticipated matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder (30-6) and the New York Knicks (25-13) promises to be an exciting non-conference battle tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and fans can catch all the action live on NBA TV. The Thunder enter as 4.5-point road favorites, and the over/under has been set at 225.5 total points.
For those looking to place bets, Oklahoma City is -165 to win outright, while New York stands at +140 to pull off the upset.
OKC
This game is a rematch of a thrilling encounter just a week ago, when the Thunder staged an impressive second-half comeback to defeat the Knicks.
However, will the outcome be different this time? The Knicks face potential injury issues, having listed Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Miles McBride (hamstring) as questionable.
Right back to work in NYC ????
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???? @sportsanimal pic.twitter.com/QnAyZfcZ6b— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 10, 2025
Meanwhile, the Thunder will be without Alex Caruso (hip) and Chet Holmgren (hip), but their depth has proven sufficient to weather injuries thus far.
In their previous matchup, a critical factor was the disparity in three-point shooting. The Knicks struggled, hitting only 28% from beyond the arc, while the Thunder thrived, connecting on an impressive 52% of their attempts.
New York
The Knicks’ perimeter defense has been a concern, and while this was a remarkable performance for Oklahoma City, it highlighted New York’s struggles from deep.
Players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby managed to find some success, but the overall shooting woes of the Knicks were evident, especially with McBride missing from the bench.
Friday Night Knicks ???? pic.twitter.com/ECE0wjQUPq
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 11, 2025
Looking ahead, Mikal Bridges is a player to watch. He takes a significant portion of his shots from the corners — a zone where he has excelled, shooting 43%.
With his points prop set at 17.5, and having surpassed that mark in six of his last ten games, it may be worth taking the over on his scoring.
Thunder-Knicks Best Bet
Defensively, the Thunder are known for their aggressive physicality, which has served them well in games with fewer fouls called against them.
This aspect could provide them a crucial edge, especially against a Knicks team that’s struggled at times on both ends of the court. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is another key player, having scored 30 or more points in seven of his last ten games.
The Knicks’ defense might find it challenging to contain him.
As these two teams clash again, expect a spirited contest, particularly with the Knicks playing at home.
Given the minor adjustments New York might benefit from, especially if McBride can contribute, they could present a formidable challenge for a Thunder team looking to rebound after a loss to the Cavaliers.
All things considered, I’m leaning towards the Knicks to cover the spread and avoid another second-half barrage from Oklahoma City.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
