The New York Knicks head north to Toronto for a crucial Atlantic Division clash at Scotiabank Arena, with both teams desperately seeking to snap losing streaks after falling to the Boston Celtics in their most recent outings. The Knicks suffered a tough 123-117 road loss despite a massive 41-point fourth quarter and a spectacular 35-point performance from Mikal Bridges. Meanwhile, the Raptors dropped a 121-113 home decision to Boston, even with Brandon Ingram pouring in 30 points.
Knicks vs Raptors Betting Picks and Predictions
The biggest storyline centers around key injuries that could reshape this matchup. Toronto will definitely be without forward RJ Barrett due to a knee injury - a significant absence against his former team. The Knicks face their own uncertainty as All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as questionable with a calf injury.
With elite talents like Jalen Brunson leading New York's charge and Scottie Barnes anchoring Toronto's defense, this divisional battle promises compelling individual matchups as both squads aim to get back in the win column.
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Knicks vs Raptors Betting Odds and Game Info
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
TV: Amazon Prime Video, MSG
Here are the current betting lines for this Atlantic Division matchup:
- Moneyline: Knicks (-192) | Raptors (+160)
- Spread: Knicks -4.5 (-112) | Raptors +4.5 (-108)
- Total: Over/Under 226.5 (Over -110 / Under -110)
Betting odds courtesy of DraftKings
The Knicks enter as road favorites with -192 moneyline odds, while the Raptors sit as home underdogs at +160. The 4.5-point spread favoring New York suggests oddsmakers expect the visitors to win by at least two possessions. Perhaps most telling is the total, which has dropped significantly from an opening number of 236.5 down to 226.5, indicating expectations for a more defensive-minded contest than initially projected.
Statistical Breakdown: How These Teams Stack Up
The numbers reveal a significant talent gap favoring the Knicks, particularly on offense. New York boasts an explosive attack averaging 120.7 points per game with an elite 119.5 offensive rating, substantially outpacing Toronto's 116.4 points and 112.7 offensive rating. The most glaring mismatch appears on the glass, where the Knicks dominate with 13.8 offensive rebounds per contest, converting those extra possessions into a league-leading 18.0 second-chance points per game.
Toronto's best defensive weapon is their perimeter coverage, holding opponents to just 33.3% shooting from three-point range - one of the NBA's stingiest marks. This sets up a fascinating chess match against a Knicks team that lives and dies by the deep ball, knocking down 15.4 threes per game. While the Raptors excel at defending the arc, New York holds a slight overall defensive edge, allowing 112.4 points compared to Toronto's 113.8.
The underlying metrics paint a clear picture of New York's superiority, evidenced by their impressive +8.7 net rating versus Toronto's modest +1.6. Coming off their explosive performances - Bridges' 35 points and Ingram's 30-point outburst - the individual star matchups will be crucial in determining which team can establish early momentum.
Injury Report: Key Absences Shape the Matchup
Both rosters are dealing with significant health concerns that could dramatically alter Tuesday's game plan, with star players' availability hanging in the balance.
Toronto Raptors
- RJ Barrett (F-G): Knee - Out
- Jamison Battle (F): Ankle - Doubtful
- Jamal Shead (G): Quad - Questionable
New York Knicks
- Karl-Anthony Towns (C-F): Calf - Questionable
- Landry Shamet (G): Shoulder - Out
- Miles McBride (G): Ankle - Out
- Pacôme Dadiet (F): Ankle - Out
Barrett's confirmed absence creates the most definitive impact, robbing Toronto of a key scorer and playmaker against his former squad. This puts additional pressure on Ingram and Barnes to shoulder the offensive load. For New York, Towns' questionable status looms large over their game plan. If the All-Star center can't go, it would significantly weaken their dominant rebounding advantage and interior presence, potentially leveling the playing field in the paint.
Game Prediction: Trusting the Road Favorites
Despite the injury uncertainty surrounding Towns, the betting value lies with the more complete and talented Knicks roster. Barrett's confirmed absence represents a bigger blow to Toronto's already limited offensive firepower than a potential Towns absence would be to New York's deeper rotation. The Raptors will struggle to generate consistent scoring against a Knicks defense that can focus more attention on containing Ingram and Barnes.
While Toronto's elite perimeter defense (33.3% allowed from three) presents a challenge, New York's relentless offensive rebounding attack should eventually wear down the home team. The Knicks' superior +8.7 net rating compared to Toronto's +1.6 highlights a significant gap in overall efficiency that should manifest over 48 minutes of basketball.
Even if Towns sits, the combination of Brunson's playmaking and Bridges' two-way excellence gives New York multiple ways to attack a shorthanded Raptors squad that's already riding a losing streak.
Best Bet: Knicks -4.5 (-112)
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Top Player Prop: Brandon Ingram Scoring Opportunity
With Barrett officially ruled out, expect the Raptors' offensive gameplan to funnel heavily through Ingram's scoring ability. Coming off a 30-point performance against Boston, Ingram will need to assume an even larger role to compensate for Barrett's absence. If Towns is limited or sits entirely, Toronto should have cleaner looks in the paint and better rebounding opportunities to create additional possessions for their primary scorer.
Ingram's usage rate figures to spike significantly as he becomes the focal point of Toronto's attack, making his scoring total an attractive target for Tuesday's divisional showdown.
Best Prop: Brandon Ingram Over Points (Odds: -114 at FanDuel)