New York Knicks @ Washington Wizards - December 28, 2024

As we gear up for the matchup between the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena, it’s clear that this game presents a stark contrast in team performance. Oddsmakers have opened with the Knicks as heavy favorites at -11.5 points, and it’s not hard to see why.

The Knicks come into this game riding a six-game winning streak, showcasing an impressive offensive output of 117.3 points per game on a solid shooting percentage of 49.8%. Their ability to stretch the floor is underscored by their three-point shooting at 39.4%, which places them among the league’s top teams in that category. Additionally, they’re adept at sharing the ball, averaging over 28 assists per game.

On the other hand, the Wizards are struggling significantly this season with a dismal record of 5-23 SU (straight up). Their offensive stats tell a troubling story: they average only 107.4 points per game while shooting just 44.1% from the field and an alarming 31.9% from beyond the arc. This lack of offensive firepower is compounded by their tendency to turn over the ball nearly 16 times per game.

Defensively, both teams exhibit some weaknesses but in different ways. The Wizards allow opponents to grab about 44 total rebounds while also committing over 21 fouls each game—both stats indicative of struggles on that end of the court. Conversely, while New York allows slightly fewer rebounds (42.8), they are better at forcing turnovers (13) and have managed to keep their foul count lower than Washington’s.

In terms of trends leading into this match-up, New York has been covering spreads efficiently lately; they’re hitting at a rate of around 83% against recent opponents with a solid record against both spread and straight-up wins during their current streak. Meanwhile, Washington has shown slight improvement against spreads recently but remains very much in rebuilding mode after losing so many games outright.

Given these statistics and trends, I predict that New York will not only win but will cover that hefty spread as well—especially considering how dominant they’ve been lately compared to Washington’s ongoing struggles.

Furthermore, looking at combined scoring trends from both teams’ previous games suggests we might see another low-scoring affair here tonight; both squads have seen UNDER results frequently in recent outings (New York’s last game saw just 193 points combined). With Washington’s offensive limitations coupled with New York’s defensive prowess—expecting a total under what oddsmakers set seems reasonable.

Overall, expect a decisive victory for New York as they continue their upward trajectory while further exposing Washington’s myriad issues on both ends of the floor.