As we approach the middle of the NBA regular season, injuries play a big role for most teams. This is the case tonight as key players are missing from both TNT national TV games.
The Knicks will probably be without point guard Stephon Marbury for the second night in a row, while the Kings will likely be without three of their four leading scorers. While injuries are important, their effect on the point spread is often overestimated, as both the Knicks and Kings covered the spread in their previous games, despite playing with fewer players.
Below is a look at tonight’s two national TV games.
DETROIT at NEW YORK – 8:05 pm ET (TNT)
The Pistons came within one win of winning back-to-back NBA championships last season and look like the team to beat this year. Detroit improved to 31-5 SU with an easy 117-89 win at Atlanta last night. The Pistons were able to rest their starters entering the fourth quarter leading by 22 points.
Detroit already beat New York at home, 106-98, as an 11 1/2-point favorite on Dec. 2. The game was tied 59-59 at halftime and then the Pistons dominated the third quarter, 24-8, to take a 16-point lead heading into the final period. Overall, the Pistons outscored the Knicks 54-45 percent from the field.
The Pistons’ leading scorer that night was Richard Hamilton who chipped in with 40 points, while the Knicks were led by Jamal Crawford (22 points) and Channing Frye (21 points). Stephon Marbury scored just 11 points, but led the team with 11 assists.
Marbury missed his first game in five years when a shoulder injury sidelined him from last night’s game in Chicago. The Knicks lost 106-104 in overtime and must now travel home without a break. Marbury is expected to be out again tonight and lead the Knicks in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (7.0 apg) and steals (1.3 spg).
THE LAKERS at SACRAMENTO – 10:35 p.m. ET (TNT)
The Lakers are playing excellent basketball and have gone 6-1 SU (5-2 ATS) in the last seven games since Kobe Bryant returned from a two-game suspension. Los Angeles enters tonight’s game with back-to-back SU dog wins after a 110-104 upset at Golden State and then a 100-92 home win against Miami on Monday. The Lakers won both games outright as 3-point underdogs.
The Sacramento Kings played without three of their top four scorers on Tuesday, but still managed to defeat the Phoenix Suns, 119-90, as an 8-point home underdog. Sacramento outshot the Suns 51-38 percent overall and led as many as 33 points in the game.
It was the second straight home win for the Kings as they improved to 11-11 SU at Arco Arena this season. Leading scorer Mike Bibby was questionable before the game, but he played 34 minutes and had 19 points with five assists. The Kings were without their other three leading scorers, as Peja Stojakovic (16.6 ppg), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (16.5 ppg) and Bonzi Wells (15.1 ppg) were injured. Stojakovic is questionable tonight, while both Abdur-Rahim and Wells are doubtful.
STEVE MERRIL is a professional sports handicapper and a documented member of The Professional Handicappers League. Get your Premium plays here.
