Bills vs. Knicks Line at -3.5: February 2 NBA
Carrie Stroup here with the latest Bills vs. Knicks line for Thursday night February 2 NBA betting. Be sure to open your online wagering account today here and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH based on your initial deposit.
Below you will also find a betting preview for Thursday night’s NBA game between the Nuggets and Clippers.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Chicago -3.5 & 191
Opening Line & Total: Bulls -4 & 190
One night after getting blown out in Philadelphia, the Bulls try to redeem themselves with a win over a Knicks team regaining confidence.
New York is in better shape for this contest with Amar'e Stoudemire (ankle) and Carmelo Anthony (wrist) both expected to start. Chicago is still without Richard Hamilton (groin) and possibly Luol Deng (wrist), and it sure missed the duo's offense in a 98-82 loss on Wednesday in Philly. The Knicks have had one day of rest since torching Detroit for 113 points on 60% shooting. And they usually get up for playing Chicago, going 7-4 ATS (5-6 SU) in the past 11 meetings.
With two of their top-four scorers (Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton) both injured, the Bulls had only two players (both point guards) score 10+ points in the loss to the 76ers. C.J. Watson came off the bench to score 20 and Derrick Rose had 18, nearly half of the 34.3 PPG he averaged in the previous three contests. But Rose has scored 26.2 PPG (54% FG) in his past six meetings with New York. The starting frontcourt of Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and Kyle Korver combined for just 18 points on 8-of-22 shooting (36%) at Philadelphia. This came after the trio combined for 49 points (20-of-35 FG, 57%) in Monday’s win over Washington. Boozer has 22.5 PPG and 15.8 RPG in his past six trips to Madison Square Garden.
New York had five players score in double-figures against Detroit on Tuesday, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 25 points (9-of-14 FG). Anthony had missed the prior two games with ankle, thumb and wrist injuries. Landry Fields had 18 points (4-of-6 threes) and five steals against the Pistons, while Tyson Chandler scored 17 with eight rebounds. Amar’e Stoudemire scored just 15 points with four rebounds in 30 minutes of action. He reportedly tweaked his ankle during halftime warm-ups Tuesday night, but is expected to start on Thursday. Stoudemire is averaging 17.6 PPG on 43% FG, which is a big drop from his 25.3 PPG on 50% FG in his first season in New York.
DENVER NUGGETS (14-7) at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (13-6)
Sportsbook.com Line: Los Angeles -1 & 205.5
Opening Line & Total: Clippers -2.5 & 207.5
The red-hot Clippers aim for a fifth straight victory Thursday when they take on the Nuggets for the second time in five days.
L.A. won Sunday's meeting 109-105 behind 32 points from Chauncey Billups, who burned his former team. The Clippers are 10-2 SU (9-3 ATS) at home this year and Chris Paul has 25.8 PPG and 9.8 APG during a current four-game win streak (3-0-1 ATS). L.A. had a hard-fought game Wednesday in Utah, but tired legs shouldn't be an issue with its 4-1 record (SU and ATS) on zero days rest.
Denver’s offense has been potent all season, leading the NBA in points (105.4 PPG) and assists (24.0 APG). But with all these points come a defense that is vulnerable, allowing 99.2 PPG (4th-most in NBA). However, the Nuggets have defended better lately, holding eight straight opponents to 45% FG or less. In the 100-97 overtime loss to Memphis on Tuesday, they were done in by sloppy play, committing 24 turnovers. But in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers, the offense was very efficient with 62 points in the paint (L.A. had 30), 49% FG and twice as many assists (22) as turnovers (11). Starting point guard Ty Lawson did not play in that game, but he returned to action Tuesday, scoring 12 points with four assists and five turnovers. Denver leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (17.4 PPG) had a terrible night against Memphis, scoring just eight points on 1-of-10 shooting. He had 17 points (5-of-14 FG) in the loss to the Clippers though. Denver’s best players in Tuesday’s loss both came off the bench, as Al Harrington scored 23 points and grabbed 10 boards, while Andre Miller scored 20 points with six rebounds and six assists against the Grizzlies.
The Clippers are averaging 106.5 PPG on 50% FG during their four-game win streak. PF Blake Griffin has had a series of highlight dunks in this span, while averaging 22.5 PPG and 10.8 RPG. He had 20.8 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 5.5 APG in four meetings with the Nuggets last year before scoring 17 points with 13 rebounds. SG Chauncey Billups was the shooting star against Denver (32 points, 6-of-12 threes), but he has gone cold in two games since, totaling 21 points on 5-of-17 FG (2-of-11 threes). SF Caron Butler (15.1 PPG) was a late scratch on Wednesday, missing the game with a sore lower back. He is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
