The NBA is looking to push new star Victor Wembanyama on Christmas Day, but I don’t think that will immediately lead to a competitive game coming.
The Knicks are big favorites Wednesday as they prepare to throw Karl Anthony-Towns opposite a difficult-to-defend Wembanyama.
San Antonio is 14-15 against the spread this season and 8-10 as an underdog, with an average margin of minus-6.1 points.
It doesn’t show in their overall record because of some funky rules in the NBA Cup, but they do have a win over the Thunder this season and defeated the Warriors on Nov. 23.
They’ll still have a challenging game with the world watching against an 19-10 Knicks squad that is the third-favorite to win the NBA Finals.
Knicks vs. Spurs odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks | -9 (-110) | -400 | Over 223.5 (-110) |
| Spurs | +9 (-110) | +320 | Under 226 (-110) |
Knicks vs. Spurs prediction
12 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
The Knicks profile as one of the better teams in the NBA, ranking sixth in basketball in offensive net rating and beginning to percolate on defense as the 13th-rated squad on that side of the court.
Tom Thibodeau’s group is the third-best defensive group in the NBA over their last 10 games.
In their last 15 games, the Knicks have the fourth-best overall net rating.
The Spurs are way below that mark, rated No. 18 in their last 15 games, and the lights will certainly be bright on Christmas Day.
San Antonio is 11th-worst in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (34.6 percent), but seventh-highest in 3-point attempts per game (39.7 attempts).
There could be some variance in this Christmas Day game that gives the Spurs a hope but, conversely, if those shots don’t fall we’d be looking at a blowout.
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For Christmas Day, we’re looking at hitting the Under, as the Knicks are 15th in points per game in their last 10 games, while the Spurs are 13th.
The Knicks are an ultra-efficient machine that could run away with this one.
PICK: Under 223.5 (-110, Bet365)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
