NBA Featured Game – Christmas Day – New York Knicks at LA Lakers
Merry Christmas everyone.
Christmas is the NBA’s big holiday. The NFL has Thanksgiving, the NHL has a lockout, and baseball has Memorial Day. Sit back and enjoy a full slate of exciting games, particularly the Championship rematch and this fantastic game between the Lakers and Knicks.
Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant are the top two scorers in the NBA. This is the first time in decades that the two leading scorers meet on Christmas day, which is fun in and of itself. Add to it that the Lakers were the biggest disappointment early in the season while the Knicks are off to their best start since their championship-caliber teams and we’ve got ourselves a hell of a game.
The Lakers turned things around. Steve Nash returned from injury, Kobe Bryant is still hot, Dwight Howard is still a force, and Pau Gasol got healthy.
The Knicks have been the best team in the NBA this year. Carmelo Anthony is a dominant scorer, while outside shooting carries the Knicks. Elevated defense and interesting matchups at the power forward position continue to make the Knicks winners.
The spread opened at only -3 and I turn to Kobe to steal the show on Christmas Day. The Lakers are the better team, the more star-studded team, and the home team. Three points seems like a small price to pay here.
Z-Code recommends avoiding this game. The Lakers are burning hot, but power rankings and other parameters leave the Lakers just a 53% money line favorite. Z-Code gives the Knicks a 58% chance to cover four points, but I disagree.
Lakers 99 – Knicks 97
P.S. Upgrade to Zcode VIP Club and Unlock All Winning Picks. Instant Access.
