New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors: Preview & Predictions For The Dec. 20 Showdown At MSG

Next Tuesday, Tom Thibodeau’s New York Knicks will have the chance to make a statement when they welcome the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors to Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have been one of the NBA’s hottest teams in the month of December, moving their way up above .500 following a Dec. 3 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks that dropped them to 10-13 on the year.

The surging Knicks will open up a four-game homestand against the Warriors on Dec. 20 (7:30 p.m. EST) before welcoming three other 2022 playoff teams in the Toronto Raptors (Dec. 21), Chicago Bulls (Dec. 23) and the Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 25) on Christmas Day.

There are many available sports betting sites and apps available to sports fans in The Empire State, and they each offer a special sign-up/welcome bonus to new customers. This includes an offer from Caesars sportsbook New York which is giving out up to $1,250 in coverage on your first bet .

Customers can place all sorts of different bets through Caesars New York, including props, moneylines, over/under totals and futures. The sportsbook also offers popular betting options such as same-game parlays and odds boosters.

Knicks Aim To Keep Dubs’ Road Woes Going

There’s no easy way to explain Golden State’s struggles on the road through the first two months of the season, but they’ve certainly been well-documented.

Golden State won 12 of their first 14 home games of 2021-22, but they also went a horrid 2-13 over their first 15 road contests. It’s simply impossible to comprehend how the defending champions can struggle so much on the road, considering that their key players have been mostly healthy this season.

The good news for the Warriors? The Knicks haven’t exactly been that great at Madison Square Garden. Even though MSG boasts one of the best atmospheres in the sporting world, the Knicks have been a better team on the road. 

Indeed, something has to give. Either the Warriors pick up a rare W away from home or the Knicks hand the defending champions yet another road loss.

The Knicks and Warriors met once earlier this season back at the Chase Center, back on Nov. 18. The Warriors, who have been virtually unbeatable at home, won that game 111-101 behind Stephen Curry’s 24 points. Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson each added 20 for the Dubs.

Of course, that game also took place well before the Knicks rounded into their current form. At full strength, Thibodeau’s group has shown they can hang in there with just about anybody.

Knicks vs. Warriors Predictions

New York ranks in the middle of the pack in points per game and points allowed per game, but they’re a borderline top 10 team in defensive rating. 

We all know the Warriors’ strength is three-point shooting, so the defensive-minded Thibodeau will need to cook up quite the scheme here to limit Golden State’s damage from downtown. Easier said than done, of course.

On paper, the Warriors are the much better team. They have arguably the league’s best starting five and a top-tier bench that was vital in helping them win the championship. New York simply can’t match Golden State’s roster depth, but the trio of Jalen Brunson, R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle can at least keep pace with the Dubs’ top scorers.

New York’s defense has significantly improved since their aforementioned loss to the Mavericks on Dec. 3. But of course, the Warriors are an opponent like no other. This is a team that wins by quick ball movement and deep shooting. This isn’t a game where you’re trying to stop a LeBron James, Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But overall, it’s hard not to like the Knicks’ chances of salvaging a season split with the defending champs. The Warriors will surely bounce out of their road struggles and regain that championship-level consistency at some point, but the surging Knicks are tough to bet against.

This will be a thrilling back-and-forth game dominated by the top stars on each team. But the duo of Brunson and Randle will outlast Golden State’s top scorers and propel the Knicks to a pivotal win at the Garden. The Knicks will start the homestand on a high note by defeating the Warriors by single-digit points.