Knicks vs. Clippers Betting Preview – March 7, 2025

The New York Knicks (40-21) take on the Los Angeles Clippers (33-29) tonight at the Intuit Dome in a crucial interconference showdown. The Knicks are playing on the second night of a back-to-back after a grueling overtime loss to the Lakers, where they also saw star guard Jalen Brunson exit with a leg injury. His availability for tonight’s game remains in question, which could significantly impact New York’s offensive game plan.

The Clippers, meanwhile, have been inconsistent lately, going 4-6 in their last ten games. James Harden is coming off a dominant 50-point performance, and with Kawhi Leonard slowly finding his rhythm again, the Clippers look to take advantage of a fatigued Knicks squad. However, they will be without Norman Powell, their top scorer this season, as well as Ben Simmons, adding to their depth concerns.

Key Storylines to Watch:

• Can the Knicks Overcome Brunson’s Potential Absence?
  Without their floor general, New York will lean on Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby to lead the scoring. Towns has thrived in similar situations this season, averaging over 30 points in games where Brunson has been sidelined.
• Clippers’ Defensive Struggles
  Los Angeles has been struggling on the defensive end, ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive rating over the past two weeks. Their interior defense, in particular, has been suspect, which could create opportunities for Knicks’ bigs to dominate the paint.

Betting Insights:

• Point Spread: Clippers -6.5
• Total Points (O/U): 217.5

With fatigue playing a role and the uncertainty surrounding Brunson’s injury, the Clippers are favored at home. However, their defensive vulnerabilities leave the door open for the Knicks to cover the spread, especially if Towns and Anunoby step up. Bettors should monitor injury updates before making final decisions.