The New York Knicks hit the road to take on the Toronto Raptors in an NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday night. These Atlantic Division opponents are both in the top four in the Eastern Conference standings but only one of them will make it to the semifinals in Las Vegas. Which team will that be? Continue reading as I attempt to answer that question by making my Knicks vs Raptors prediction for Tuesday's game.
Our Knicks vs Raptors Pick
Pick: New York Knicks -4.5
Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Knicks @ Toronto Raptors
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
- Broadcast: Prime Video
Key Storylines
- The Knicks enter off a strong recent run, winners in four of their last five contests. Their momentum is fueled by balanced scoring and improved chemistry, particularly on the glass. They lead the Eastern Conference in offensive rebounds per game. They defeated the Raptors by 22 points in their first meeting of the season.
- The Raptors have dropped three contests in a row, all of which have come at home. RJ Barrett remains sidelined with a knee injury, thinning their wing rotation and limiting their offensive ceiling. The Raptors will try to overcome all of that adversity to get a win in their first knockout game in NBA Cup competition in franchise history.
- On the Knicks’ side, there is some injury uncertainty. While their recent win versus the Orlando Magic was impressive, guard Miles McBride was spotted in a walking boot after tweaking his ankle and is listed as out for Tuesday. Landy Shamet is also out of action. Additionally, big man Karl-Anthony Towns practiced Monday but remains questionable after missing the last game with calf tightness.
- The Knicks are appearing in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup for the third time in the competition's three years of existence. New York has been eliminated at this stage of the tournament in each of the last two years and they will try to avoid getting cut down again here.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The Knicks won the first meeting between these teams by a score of 116-94.
- The Knicks are 15-8 against the spread so far this season.
- Toronto is 10-15 against the spread going into this matchup.
- The Knicks have gone over the total in 12 of their first 23 games this season.
- Toronto has gone under the total 14 times in 25 games.
Best Player Props to Watch
Player | Prop to Watch |
|---|
Jalen Brunson (NYK) | Over 28.5 Points |
Scottie Barnes (TOR) | Over 5.5 Assists |
Mitchell Robinson (NYK) | Over 11.5 Rebounds (if he plays) |
Knicks vs Raptors Model Projection
- Score Projection: Knicks 118 – Raptors 112
- Win Probability: Knicks 60%, Raptors 40%
Final Thoughts
I am going to go with the Knicks to win this game, cover the spread, and advance to the semifinals of the NBA Cup. New York is operating at such a high level offensively and they should take advantage of the recent struggles of the Raptors. Expect the duo of Brunson and Towns to carry the Knicks to Las Vegas with a win here.
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