Trail Blazers vs Knicks Free Pick, NBA Free Pick & Predictions 1/30/25

J.A. Cavalier
4 days ago
2 min read

NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS

Trail Blazers vs Knicks Free Pick

The New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden tonight riding a wave of momentum as they host the Portland Trail Blazers in a cross-conference matchup trending strongly toward the home side. New York enters at 29–18 and has won four straight games, a surge that has vaulted them to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and reinforced their growing reputation as one of the league’s most reliable teams at home.

Portland arrives in a far different position. The Trail Blazers sit at 23–25 and have dropped three consecutive games, putting added pressure on a roster fighting to remain in the Western Conference play-in picture. That challenge is magnified by lingering injury concerns, which threaten to thin Portland’s rotation and limit offensive consistency—especially in a difficult road environment.

From a betting perspective, this matchup is shaped by contrasting trends. The Knicks have been dominant at Madison Square Garden, leveraging defensive discipline, physicality, and efficient halfcourt execution to control games. Portland, meanwhile, has struggled to generate momentum away from home and now faces a Knicks team playing with confidence and urgency.

With New York peaking at the right time and Portland searching for stability, this game presents several high-value angles for bettors. Whether the focus is on the side, total, or situational spots, the underlying metrics and current form suggest the Knicks are well-positioned to continue their strong run on their home floor.

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FREE PICK Under 225.5

this one is screaming defense and discipline. Since getting back from the West Coast trip, New York has turned Madison Square Garden into a crime scene—95.7 points allowed per game over their last six, holding teams under 95 in three of the last four. That’s vintage Thibodeau: slow it down, choke the air out of possessions, and dare you to score late in the clock. Pace backs it up too—the Knicks are 24th in pace, happy to live in the halfcourt where they rank 11th in efficiency, which means they score without rushing and bleed clock doing it. Portland? They’re limping in on a three-game skid, and if Avdija is limited or out, their offensive ceiling drops from “mediocre” to “hope and prayer.” And here’s the killer stat: none of the Knicks’ last six games have even touched 225.5. Public sees a big-market game and expects points; sharps see a grinder with one team dictating terms.