Knicks vs. Raptors Prediction and Odds for December 9: Is Karl-Anthony Towns the NBA MVP

The New York Knicks (14-9) are set to face the Toronto Raptors (7-17) in a standalone matchup in the NBA on Monday night.

The Knicks have the highest-rated offense in the NBA but are just 6-6 on the road and fresh off of a loss to the Detroit Pistons. On the other side, the Raptors lost back-to-back games but are fittingly 6-6 at home.

Here, we will analyze the Knicks vs. Raptors odds and share our favorite betting picks for Monday’s encounter.

Knicks vs. Raptors Betting Odds for Monday, December 9

The Knicks are 11-11-1 (50 percent) against the spread, 10-10-1 (50 percent) ATS as a favorite, and 5-7 (41.7 percent) ATS on the road.

The Raptors are 16-8 (66.7 percent) ATS, 16-8 (66.7 percent) ATS as an underdog, and 9-3 (75 percent) ATS at home.

The following odds for the Knicks vs. Raptors game are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Head over to BetMGM to place your bets and claim up to $1,500 in bonus bets* with our promo code WSNSPORTS.

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

Knicks vs. Raptors Prediction

New York Knicks Preview

There are plenty of positives and negatives to discuss when mentioning the Knicks. We’ll start with the positives.

Wow, what an offense. NY has deftly blended the array of contrasting but complementary skill sets of their starting five and bench players in a way that both encapsulates and takes advantage of modern basketball.

Jalen Brunson sets the table as an individual creator and scorer who demands attention when attacking the pain, draws free throws at an elite level, and can shoot from distance. 

Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are both great at attacking closeouts but can step back for three and defend. 

Josh Hart provides tempo in transition and relentlessly attacks the offensive glass, while Karl-Anthony Towns creates mismatches because of his size and ability to knock down threes at an all-world clip.

All in all, the Knicks averaged a league-best 121.6 points per 100 possessions, 0.9 ahead of the Boston Celtics and 1.3 ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The downside is that they’re only 19th in defensive rating, putting them in a group with teams such as the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers.

NY also plays at the third-slowest pace in the league, though that hasn’t prevented it from ranking in the top five in rebound rate, turnover frequency, and true shooting percentage. 

The Knicks’ bench unit is just about average as far as net rating, while they outscored opponents by an average of 1.6 points per 100 possessions on the road. Fittingly, their offense is tied with Cleveland for the lead in road offensive efficiency, while their defense is just 25th of 30 teams.

Use WSNSPORTS at BetMGM for $1,500 Bonus

Toronto Raptors Preview

The Raptors have shown promising signs thus far, though they’ve been bogged down by their inexperience and the array of injuries they endured.

Judging Toronto by its metrics (21st in offensive rating, 22nd in defensive rating) is unfair to what it has accomplished as a team that is looking to forge an identity and that simply doesn’t have the pieces to become an elite performer. The fact that they are .500 at home is a step in the right direction, and several of their players are having career years.

RJ Barrett (23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists), Scottie Barnes (21 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists), Gradey Dick (18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds), and Jakob Poeltl (16.2 points, 11.6 rebounds) all flashed thus far. Additionally, Ochai Agbaji seems like he can be someone who plays 20 minutes per night for a team with playoff aspirations, and Immanuel Quickley only played three games before he suffered an elbow injury.

The Raptors excel on the glass but are one of the most careless teams in the league. They were also outscored by 3.2 points per 100 possessions on their home floor despite being an even 6-6.

While the Knicks’ starters would be favored to outperform the Raptors, the bench matchup is also lopsided. The Raptors’ bench is a full 4.4 points per 100 possessions behind the Knicks’ which, considering NY plays its starters have minutes, is a hefty margin.

Knicks vs. Raptors Betting Pick

• Knicks vs. Raptors pick: Knicks -5.5 (-115) at BetMGM

The Knicks are a great team but haven’t been elite on the road. They’re also coming off of a loss, but then again, so are the Raptors.

Toronto excelled against the spread as an underdog in every game it played. That means it won as an outright dog in six of 12 home games, making it an extremely profitable team both ATS and straight up.

That said, this line could potentially only be worth two buckets, which the Knicks are good value for. We like NY’s high-powered offense to take its show just North of the border for a win.

Claim $1,500 Bonus Offer at BetMGM

How to Watch Knicks vs. Raptors on 12/9/24

• When: Monday, Dec. 9 @ 7:30 P.M. ET

• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON, CA

• TV: NBA TV

More NBA Bets and Picks Today

Knicks vs. Raptors Same Game Parlay

NBA Player Props and Best Bets for December 9