Two of the NBA’s most prominent franchises face off in a spotlight game on Tuesday evening. The New York Knicks welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to Madison Square Garden for a cross-conference battle. Los Angeles is 9-9 this season, and New York is 9-8 through the first 17 games of the 2021-22 campaign. LeBron James (suspension) is out for the Lakers, with Austin Reaves (hamstring) listed as doubtful and both Kendrick Nunn (knee) and Trevor Ariza (ankle) ruled out. Derrick Rose (ankle) is questionable for New York, with Taj Gibson (groin) listed as doubtful and Mitchell Robinson (concussion) ruled out.

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET in New York. Caesars Sportsbook lists New York as a 3.5-point home favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 214.5 in the latest Lakers vs. Knicks odds. Before locking in any Knicks vs. Lakers picks or NBA predictions, be sure to check out what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $1,200 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It’s also on a stunning 115-76 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has locked in on Lakers vs. Knicks and released its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds, betting lines and trends for Knicks vs. Lakers:

• Lakers vs. Knicks spread: Knicks -3.5
• Lakers vs. Knicks over-under: 214.5 points
• Lakers vs. Knicks money line: Knicks -170, Lakers +145
• LAL: The Lakers are 6-12 against the spread in the last 18 games
• NYK: The Knicks are 7-10 against the spread in the last 17 games

Why the Lakers can cover

The Lakers have notable strengths on both ends, even facing roster challenges due to injury. Los Angeles is a top-10 team in field goal shooting at 46.1 percent, and the Lakers are also above league-average in 3-point shooting (34.8 percent) and free-throw attempts (20.7 per game). The Lakers are averaging 23.9 assists per game, a top-eight figure in the NBA, and New York has issues on the defensive glass with only a 71.3 percent defensive rebound rate this season. 

On the other end, Los Angeles is creating a turnover on 15.6 percent of possessions, and New York is a bottom-10 team in field goal percentage (44.1 percent) and 2-point percentage (49.9 percent). The Lakers can also contest shots well against the Knicks, with New York generating only 21.9 assists per game in the early going.

Why the Knicks can cover

New York’s defense remains very potent. The Knicks are holding opponents to 42.9 percent shooting this season, the No. 3 mark in the NBA, and opponents are only converting 49.2 percent of 2-point attempts. The Knicks are No. 2 in the NBA in blocked shots (6.5 per game) and firmly in the top five in points allowed in the paint at 41.9 per game. Los Angeles is committing 16.6 turnovers per game, second-most in the NBA, and that could fuel New York’s offense. 

The Knicks are finding success on offense as well, scoring 108.6 points per 100 possessions, and New York lands in the top 10 in 3-point attempts and in the top five in 3-point accuracy at 36.4 percent. The Knicks are No. 6 in the NBA in free-throw attempts (21.0 per game), and the Lakers are No. 29 in the league in free-throw prevention defensively. New York is also committing only 13.9 turnovers per game, fewer than the average NBA team in 2021-22.

How to make Knicks vs. Lakers picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 200 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model’s picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Lakers vs. Knicks? And which side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.