Spurs @ Knicks tips, picks and prop bets: Knicks defence to shut down San Antonio and Wembanyama

Spurs @ Knicks game pick

As Forest Gump once said, the Spurs are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. But that’s true of most young teams.

After pulling off a jaw-dropping double over the Suns in Phoenix, they unravelled in overtime against Toronto before losing by 41 to the Pacers.

Excluding their damp squib against the Clippers, Victor Wembanyama and co are averaging 119 points per game this season while allowing teams to shoot 51.2%.

This has been an extremely fun team to watch and the way they play is the polar opposite to the Knicks, who are allowing just 102.4 points per game.

Their defensive rating as a whole is good but Mitchell Robinson has been standout with a 99.5DRTG this year, followed by Isiah Hartenstein with 101.6.

The Spurs will have to find a way to get good offence against a very mean defence. Remember, the Clippers did hold them below 90.

All the walk may be about Wembanyama, averaging 19.4ppg and 8.2 rebounds in his rookie season, but Devin Vassell’s absence is the main talking point.

He isn’t the star attraction but he is key to what San Antonio does on offence and they cannot afford to be down a key piece against this Knicks defence.

The wins over Phoenix were impressive, but also avoidable. They’ve been outscored by 91 points in five games excluding that back-to-back.

Bet: New York Knicks -9

Spurs @ Knicks prop bets

Wembanyama is averaging just over 19ppg this season but we expect the Spurs to be limited against the Knicks, so bet under his total.

Prop: Victor Wembanyama under 19.5 points

No team does a worse job of defending the three than the Spurs. Jalen Brunson is already averaging two per game and should get some good looks here.

Prop: Jalen Brunson over 2.5 threes