The New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns wrap up their two-game interconference series Friday night at PHX Arena in Phoenix. Just ten days ago, the Suns outlasted the Knicks as 2.5-point road favorites, 118-110, so let’s see what’s the best betting pick for their final meeting of the regular season.  

This time, the Suns are 6-point home favorites on BetRivers Sportsbook. The Knicks are +200 moneyline dogs, while the totals sit at 218.0 points. New York still misses Mitchell Robinson due to a foot injury. On the other side, Phoenix is without Abdel Nader (knee), Cameron Payne (knee), and Jae Crowder (ankle). 

The Knicks continue their six-game road trip 

The New York Knicks (37-29; 42-23-1 ATS) put an end to their three-game winning streak last Wednesday. They lost at Denver as 3.5-point underdogs, 113-97, and the Knicks just couldn’t get things going offensively.  

New York shot only 38.4% from the field. The Knicks’ starting lineup combined for just 53 points, while Immanuel Quickly led the way with 18 points off the bench. Furthermore, the Knicks allowed 18 offensive rebounds which was another key factor in their heavy loss. 

New York is the No. 4 seed in the East, but the fifth-seeded Hawks are only half a game behind the Knicks. Also, the seventh-seeded Miami Heat are two games behind New York, so the Knicks still have a job to do. After Friday’s clash in Phoenix, the Knicks will visit Los Angeles for a couple of games against the Lakers and Clippers. 

The Suns look to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Atlanta 

The Phoenix Suns (47-19; 40-25-1 ATS) are coming off a 135-103 loss at the Atlanta Hawks this past Wednesday. They put an end to a five-game win streak, as the Suns fell apart on both sides of the floor. 

Phoenix shot 41.8% from the field while allowing the Hawks to make 63.1% of their field goals and 50.0% of their 3-pointers. The Suns scored just 38 second-half points and yielded 68 in a return. Devin Booker finished with 30 points and five assists, but the rest of the pack didn’t help a lot. 

The Suns fell to the second spot of the Western Conference standings, trailing one game behind the leader Utah Jazz. As well as the Knicks, the Suns will visit LA this weekend to take on the Lakers on Sunday night. Phoenix will play four of their last five games of the season away from home. 

Trends:

New York:

• 0-5 ATS in the last five games against Phoenix  

Phoenix:

• 4-2 ATS in the last six games overall 
• 7-0 ATS in the last seven games played on Friday 

NBA Free Picks

The stake is huge for both Knicks and Suns, so I don’t feel comfortable with a 6-point spread, expecting to see a tight battle. Still, Phoenix should beat New York at home, and I would buy a few points on the Suns and take them at slightly lower wages. 

Phoenix defeated New York by eight points on April 26, but it was a hard-fought battle for all 48 minutes. The Suns certainly possess more offensive firepower than the Knicks who lean a lot on their stout defense. New York owns the fourth-best defensive rating in the league (108.3), but their offensive rating 18^th in the NBA (110.9). The Suns are seventh in offensive efficiency (116.6) and eighth in defensive efficiency (110.9). 

Pick: Take Phoenix Suns -4.0 at -150   

The Total:

In their previous encounter, both New York and Phoenix shot extremely well. They combined for 228 points, and I’m expecting a different scenario in this one. The Knicks play at the slowest pace in the NBA, averaging only 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, while the Suns’ pace of 97.0 is the fourth-slowest in the league. 

This should be a low-scoring affair with a couple of tough defensive teams taking on each other. With so much on the table, I think neither side will rush things a lot. 

Pick: Go under 218.5 points at -110    

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