New York Knicks versus Minnesota Timberwolves Pick Prediction NBA Pro Basketball Odds Preview 12-23-2012

The 13-11 Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to play the 19-7 New York Knicks in an NBA pro basketball game on Sunday afternoon. Tip off time from New York is scheduled for 5PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by the NBA League Pass Channel.

The betting line will be released in this game on Sunday afternoon as Amare Stoudemire may return to the Knicks lineup and a definite playing status of point guard Ricky Rubio is determined.

The two teams met once during the lockout season a year ago and it was the Knicks with the 100-98 road win at Minnesota as a +6 ½ point underdog. The total landed over 197 ½ points.

The Timberwolves are 5-8 on the road. They have won five of their past seven games. They defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night 99-93 as a +2 point home underdog. The total landed under 200 ½ points. Minnesota jumped out quickly to the 30-18 lead after one quarter. The Thunder was in a bad spot in a back to back making the longest trip allowed in the league in back to back situations as they make the flight from Atlanta to Minnesota. Ricky Rubio is back in the lineup for the Timberwolves and in 18 minutes he had no points and three assists. Kevin Love leads Minnesota with 19 points and 14 boards a game.

The Knicks are 11-2 at home this season. They have lost two of three games all coming at home during this six game home stand. New York is beaten on Friday by the Chicago Bulls 110-106 as a -6 ½ point favorite. The total in the game landed over 187 ½ points. New York made is interesting in the end as they cut a 22 point deficit to start the fourth quarter to just a four point loss in the end. After a strong start defensively by New York we have seen some slippage lately. New York has allowed 102 or more points in four of the past five games on this home stand.