The Los Angeles Lakers covered the basketball gambling spread as NBA online betting underdogs on Monday against the New York Knicks, and snapped a 12-road game losing streak. Lou Williams scored 22 points and Nick Young had 17, while Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram had 14 points each. Larry Nance Jr. and Tarik Black had 10 rebounds apiece. “You can’t keep us down,” Young said. Despite the guard’s optimism, this is only LA’s third win in the last 13 games, and first win over NY at MSG in six years. The Lakers went on a 20-4 run in the first quarter and never conceded the lead from there. LA was ahead 29-19 at the end of the quarter. The Lakers had the biggest lead of the game in the third quarter, 83-56.
LA head coach opted for an all-new starting lineup comprising younger players – Young. Ingram, Randle, Black, and D’Angelo Russell – and the gambit paid off. The Lakers beat the Knicks 20-6 in offensive rebounds, and outscored them 27-4 in second-chance points. Nance scored 10 points to go with his 10 rebounds, while rookie Ivica Zubac added another 10 points, seven rebounds, and a career-best four blocks. Black had his 10 rebounds and nine points in 20 minutes, a performance that even drew praise from the opposing head coach. LA is 26-27-1 against the NBA online betting spread this season. The Lakers’ basketball gambling over/under record is 29-25.
The Knicks scored the first four points of the game but that was the only time they were in the lead. Carmelo Anthony had 26 points, while Kristaps Porzingis and Brandon Jennings added 16 each. Willy Hernangomez had a game-best 13 rebounds. Justin Holiday had 14 points and Kyle O’Quinn added 10. “You’ve got to play for some pride,” head coach Jeffrey John Hornacek said. “You’ve got to come out there and play.” But you also gotta keep’em separated. NY pulled within 15 points in the third quarter, but the Lakers pulled away by 27 points in that same quarter. The Knicks scored the first six points of the last quarter but did not get closer than 119-107. Derrick Rose returned to NY’s lineup after missing the last four games with a sprained ankle, but could only contribute five points in 32 minutes.
The Knicks have lost their last two home games, eight of the last 11, and 17 of their last 23. According to point guard Brandon Jennings, “that’s the worst we’ve looked this season.” Melo volunteered that “pride, effort, however you want to put it, it just wasn’t there.” He added that “my word is effort. Coach’s word is pride.” Porzingis suggested a third word; trust. “We don’t have that trust (in each other). Some games we do, some games we don’t.” So it’s just basically a nomenclature issue. As soon as they get their choice of words straight the Knicks will get back on the winning path. NY is 29-24 against the basketball gambling spread this season. The Knicks’ NBA online betting over/under record is 28-24-1.