Knicks vs. Lakers Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for January 31 (Defense Takes Back Seat at Madison Square Garden)

Knicks vs. Lakers Game Info

• Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Venue: Madison Square Garden -- New York City, New York
• Coverage: TNT and SportsNet LA

The 2022-23 NBA season continues on Tuesday with five more games, including a battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. The Lakers rank 13th in the Western Conference with a 23-28 record, while the Knicks check in seventh in the Eastern Conference with a solid 27-24 record.

Los Angeles enters as a loser in three of its last four games following a 121-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. Meanwhile, New York has now lost five of its last seven games thanks to a 122-115 loss to the Nets on Saturday. Which playoff hopeful will bounce back with a win on Tuesday night?

Knicks vs. Lakers Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: NYK: (-156) | LAL: (+132)
• Spread: NYK: -3.5 (-108) | LAL: +3.5 (-112)
• Total: 230.5 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Knicks enter this contest as small home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 7:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 230.5 points, which is about average compared to Tuesday's projected totals.

Knicks vs Lakers Betting Information

Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Knicks	-2	-	-	237.5	-110	-110	-130	110

Knicks vs. Lakers Betting Trends

• The Knicks covered 39 times in 82 chances against the spread last season.
• The Lakers had an ATS record of 18-20 as underdogs of 2 points or greater last season.
• The Knicks and their opponents combined to hit the over 39 out of 82 times last season.
• The Lakers had 47 of their 82 games hit the over last season.

Knicks vs. Lakers Prediction & Pick

This isn't a typical second night of a back-to-back for the Lakers as both LeBron James and Anthony Davis sat out on Monday. Davis' absence was for an injury management purpose and he is expected to suit up tonight, while James remains questionable to play due to significant left ankle soreness.

The factor of the unknown here gives the Knicks an edge. New York hasn't played since Saturday, meaning its roster is rested and ready to put on a show. Head coach Tom Thibodeau's team allows an opponent shooting percentage of only 45.4% at Madison Square Garden this season (No. 5 in NBA).

LA has also lost six straight games to Atlantic Division opponents, so fade the Lakers on Tuesday.

Final Score Prediction: Knicks: 119 | Lakers: 116

Knicks vs. Lakers Best Bet

The Lakers play at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA and are going to do whatever they can to throw the Knicks off of their game. That means pushing the ball in quick offensive possessions and playing aggressive defense. It's a strategy that should make bettors lean toward the over in this matchup.

The total has hit the over in four of New York's last five games overall as well as eight of its last 12 games against LA. Keep in mind the Lakers' last 10 games have included an average of 237.6 points, while the Knicks' last 10 games have featured an average of 232.4 points. Trust the trends tonight.

Bet: Over 230.5 Points (-110)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.