Knicks vs Trail Blazers

The Knicks enter Moda Center riding a strong four-game winning streak that has boosted their Eastern Conference standing significantly. In contrast, Portland continues their downward spiral with five consecutive losses, exposing weaknesses heavily tied to key injuries—most notably the lingering absence of Damian Lillard, whose scoring and leadership they've desperately missed. Historically, the Knicks have dominated recent matchups, taking four of their last five meetings against Portland, including two convincing road victories. Coupled with their current dominance against Western Conference teams on away courts this season, there's strong evidence suggesting New York will comfortably continue their winning trend. With moderate risk and decent payoff at -177, this moneyline bet earns a confident A- grade.

Portland enters this matchup having dropped four consecutive games, with the offense clearly struggling to regain its rhythm amid recent setbacks. The Trail Blazers recently suffered a significant blow as key offensive contributor Anfernee Simons remains sidelined with injury, heavily limiting the team's scoring prowess. New York, on the other hand, arrives confidently riding a consistent three-game winning streak, driven mostly by their stout defensive play and disciplined pace manager Jalen Brunson, although Julius Randle's ongoing ankle soreness has slightly impacted offensive fluidity. In addition, historical matchups reveal a trend toward low-scoring affairs; each of the last three meetings between these two teams has resulted in totals below the current 226.5 line. Considering Portland's offensive difficulties, significant injuries, and the teams' recent scoring history against each other, the under stands out as a strong play deserving an A- rating due to its high confidence level and favorable odds at (-110).

The Knicks enter Portland with confidence after winning five consecutive games, giving them strong momentum heading into this road matchup. On the other hand, the struggling Trail Blazers, who have failed to win in their previous four contests, continue facing an uphill battle, underscored by the recent injury report listing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as questionable due to an ankle sprain. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett have historically performed well against Western Conference opposition, where the Knicks are sporting an impressive 15-6 ATS record for the season. Additionally, the Blazers have struggled covering the spread at home against Eastern Conference teams, going only 3-9 ATS this season. Expect New York to comfortably overcome the moderate 4-point spread, providing good betting value at odds of -104 and earning a strong grade A- prediction.