UPDATE: Julius Randle has cleared the NBA's health and safety protocols and is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game.
Julius Randle has been cleared from health and safety protocols. He will be listed as questionable (return to play reconditioning) for tonight’s game.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) January 4, 2022
What follows is the initial betting preview for this game when Randle was expected to miss the contest. The Knicks are currently two-point favorites in this game at WynnBET.
The New York Knicks have gotten blown out in back-to-back games without Julius Randle, and they’ll be without him and Kemba Walker when they host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
The Knicks have ruled out Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel (health and safety protocols) and Kemba Walker (sore left knee) for tonight's game vs. the Pacers.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) January 4, 2022
Both Mitch Robinson and Jericho Sims are listed as questionable (return to competition reconditioning)
Indiana has Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Duarte, Caris LeVert and others in the health and safety protocols too, but are the Knicks a deserving favorite in this game?
Here are the latest odds via WynnBET:
Pacers vs. Knicks Odds, Spread and Total
Spread:
- Pacers +1.5 (-110)
- Knicks: -1.5 (-110)
Moneyline:
- Pacers: +100
- Knicks: -120
Total:
- 208 (Over -110/Under -110)
Pacers vs. Knicks Prediction and Pick
The Knicks are dreadful at home this season, going 6-12 against the spread, and they have looked even worse in the two games with Randle in the health and safety protocols.
They’ve lost back-to-back games by 15 points to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors and look nothing like a playoff team at the moment.
Even without LeVert and Brogdon, the Pacers gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a fight their last time out, losing by just four. New York has already lost two games to the Pacers this season by double-digits, and I think it is overvalued in this line.
The Knicks simply aren’t the same team without Derrick Rose and Randle, and without Walker to control things on offense in their absence, this team lacks identity and experience.
I think Domantas Sabonis will have a field day down low with Randle and Nerlens Noel out, so give me the Pacers to win this game outright.
Pick: Pacers Moneyline (+100)