The Garden plays host to what should be a fun Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks contest on Tuesday that features a pair of teams looking to find their postseason stride. Golden State has been a different ballclub since Jimmy Butler came to town while the Knicks have rattled off three straight after consecutive setbacks against the two powerhouses in the Eastern Conference.
How am I investing in this nationally-televised game?
Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks Best Bet
Before we get into where my money currently sits on this game, there are two statuses up in the air – Stephen Curry is dealing with a minor ankle tweak and Karl-Anthony Towns has a personal issue that requires his attention. At the moment, there seems to be optimism that both stars will be active and that is an assumption I’m operating under given how the sportsbooks have handicapped things.
The Warriors played last night in Charlotte (119-101 win) and thus could opt to rest Curry. He double-doubled in 30 minutes in the victory and wasn’t asked to do too much heavy lifting in a game Golden State never trailed, but this is a team battling for seeding. The Warriors need to have their star healthy down the stretch, hence the worries about his status.
Should he suit up, I see little reason to doubt what this team is doing.
- 10 games pre-Jimmy Butler acquisition: 113.0 offensive rating, 117.4 defensive rating
- 10 games post-Jimmy Butler acquisition: 121.9 offense rating, 108.0 defense rating
Asked Stephen Curry about the addition of Jimmy Butler, and how he brings a new element to this team. #Warriors
“It’s the polar opposite from how I play, so it’s a match made in heaven on that front.” pic.twitter.com/4SuOulcCIY
— Jeremy Grandison (@JeremyGrandiso1) March 3, 2025
The spacing, the attitude, the versatility – it all seems to be clicking and that’s not a bad spot to be against a talented Knicks team that prefers not to play defense (1.18 points allowed per possession over their past 25 games).
If we’ve learned anything when it comes to the current era of the NBA it’s that iffy attention on the defensive end isn’t prohibitive in a major way during the regular season (we can cross the playoff bridge when we get there), so that alone wouldn’t have me off of the home team in this game.
It’s the inability to play together in the sandbox.
We all learned how to play nicely with others at a young age. To take care of things, to share, and not to break things. I’m not saying the Knicks need to go back to kindergarten, but I’m not saying they couldn’t use a refresher course, either.
Last seven games of January
- 65.4% assist rate
- 10.1% turnover rate
Since
- 59.2% assist rate
- 11.8% turnover rate
A bounce back with time is certainly possible, but I’m not sold on this being the spot. The Warriors are a top-10 defense in terms of turnover percentage and assist-to-turnover rate this season – numbers that largely don’t involve the impact of Butler.
New York has, not surprisingly, lost eight of its nine least-efficient offensive home games this season (average point differential in those losses: 14.6 points). I fear that tonight could fall into that bucket with or without Towns.
You’ll want to stay on top of the news, but I’ve locked in half-a-bet already based on how this is lined and will go back to the window if we get good news on the Curry front.
Pick: Warriors +4.5
Underdog Parlay: Raptors and Warriors moneyline (+797, FanDuel)
