Will the Real New York Knicks Please Stand Up?

Despite being 3.5 games outside of the play-in picture, trailing both Charlotte and Atlanta (tied for the ninth seed), the Knicks are playing some of their best basketball since the beginning of the season. Bing Bong! They've won three in a row, but I'm not sure if I really buy it...

Randle closed out his postgame presser on Wednesday by claiming that the Knicks had their "best defensive performance of the year"

• While it's true that the Knicks held a surging Dallas team to just 85 points, the Mavs missed their first 19 threes, and shot just 21.6% from downtown on the evening

• The Knicks, alternatively, made 44.4% of their triples, creating a disparity that is typically impossible to overcome in today's NBA

Still, they dominated the battle of the boards, 54-39, and held Luka's Mavs to 17 points or fewer in three of four quarters. Tonight, they head to Grind City to play the Grizzlies for their toughest matchup since the start of their streak, take a look at the lines 👇

Knicks vs. Grizzlies Betting Preview (subject to change)

• Spread: Grizzlies -9.5

• Moneyline: Grizzlies -450 (bet $450, win $100), Knicks +350 (bet $100, win $350)

• O/U: 231

Randle's Back on Track

Last season, Julius Randle's emergence as a legitimate superstar was one of the league's most compelling surprises

• The winner of the NBA's Most Improved Award and an honoree to the All-NBA Second Team, Randle chose to "lock in" a four-year, $117M extension, instead of hunting for an even bigger deal after the conclusion of this season

However, in retrospect, Randle was wise to get his money while he could, since his production has regressed significantly since he got paid. Here's how his scoring marks have taken a dive this season 👇

• 4.0 fewer PPG

• 9.9% worse on threes

• 3.7% worse from the field

However, he's looked more like his old self recently, scoring at least 24 points in four of his last five, including a career-high 46-point performance in the team's drubbing of the Kings

• Considering the fact that he'll be under contract until 2026, the Knicks have got to hope that Randle is the shooter he proved to be last season, not the one he's been much of this year 😳

If you think Randle can sustain his recent play, think about betting the over on his point total for tonight's game 👇

• Randle over 23.5 points: -122

• Randle under 23.5 points: +100 (even)

Young RJ Barrett

Although the Ja Morant is a virtual lock to win this season's Most Improved Player Award (-1400), the Knicks have a guard of their own in the midst of making his own jump. Despite not shooting as well from deep as he did last season, RJ Barrett has come back from an ankle injury in late-February on a tear, posting what are easily the best stats of his career 👇

• 27.3 PPG

• 7.0 RPG

• 4.9 APG

He's still only shooting around league average from distance during this stretch, but has been able to get to the basket with a newfound craft and ferocity, using both his elite size and strength for a guard to finish over and around his opponents

• While his game lacks the high-potency pizzazz of a Ja Morant, he's a sturdier defender, and could develop into one of the NBA's better two-way wings if he continues to improve his game

For My Parlay Gurus

Considering the fact that Memphis has been the league's best team against the spread, and New York has been one of the worst, smart money's on the Grizz to stop the streaking Knicks. I'm pairing the Grizzlies' spread with RJ's over to get the best bang for my buck 👇

• Grizzlies -9.5: -110

• RJ Barrett to score OVER 24.5 points: -112

$100 on this bet would win you $261 -- if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for $100*. First come, first serve 😉

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