Knicks vs. Hornets Prediction and Odds (Fade Knicks After Tuesday's Collapse)

The New York Knicks’ small playoff hopes were all but dashed on Tuesday night when they blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead to lose to the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. 

Things won’t get any easier for Tom Thibodeau’s squad, as the Knicks have to go on the road in the second night of a back-to-back against the surging Charlotte Hornets. 

LaMelo Ball and company have won five straight games heading into this matchup, and there is a chance they’ll face the Knicks with Julius Randle out after he missed Tuesday’s game against Atlanta. 

Let’s get into the odds for this game via WynnBET: 

Knicks vs. Hornets Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Knicks: +7 (-110)
• Hornets: -7 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Knicks: +240
• Hornets: -300

Total: 

• 227 (Over -110/Under -110)

Knicks vs. Hornets Prediction and Pick

I really thought that this Knicks team would show more fight with their backs against the wall, but they simply were outclassed by the Hawks in the final six minutes of last night’s loss. 

The Hornets have been humming as of late, ranking No. 2 in the league in offensive rating and No. 21 in defensive rating over their last 10 games. The Knicks are 15th and third in those respective categories over that same stretch. 

New York’s defense has been better than it started the season, but it may have trouble keeping up against a Hornets team that loves to push the pace (third in pace this season). The Knicks are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating for the season, and if Randle sits, the Knicks are going to have even less offense to fall back on. 

Tom Thibodeau played Taj Gibson over Obi Toppin in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, so that tells me all I need to know about the Knicks trying to win games down the stretch. 

Lean: Hornets -7 (-110)

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.