Knicks vs. Hornets prediction: NBA picks, odds, best bet for Thursday 

While March Madness dominates most headlines with the Sweet 16, this point of the NBA season is crucial for playoff seeding. 

The red-hot Knicks, riding a seven-game win streak, head to Charlotte to face the streaking Hornets, who are looking to extend their consecutive wins to five on Thursday.

This game is equally important to both ballclubs; the Knicks are getting closer to locking in the No. 2 seed, while the Hornets remain 2.5 games behind Atlanta for the sixth seed.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks are 1.5-point favorites on the road with the point total checking in at 224.5 at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Knicks vs. Hornets prediction, best bet

During this winning streak, the Knicks’ defensive rating has reached 111.9, placing them in the top five in the league according to NBA Advanced Stats.

They have accumulated wins over the Pacers (twice), Pelicans, Wizards, Warriors, Nets, and Jazz, six teams that are not exactly the cream of the crop.

This stretch of games, however, offers a return to the early-season form we witnessed. A strong, team-centric effort on both ends of the court.

While a Knicks eighth straight win might seem like a sure thing at first glance, this Charlotte team is not the same one the Knicks defeated twice earlier this season.

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns along with OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges react on the court during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

The Hornets have gone 22-6 over their last 28 games, including 12-5 post All-Star break. 

LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel rank third and first, respectively, in total 3-pointers made in the league, while Brandon Miller and newly acquired Coby White provide an additional scoring punch. 

On this homestand, they are 4-0 against the spread (ATS), including a massive 44-point win over the Kings on Tuesday, in which they nailed a franchise-record 26 3s.

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This feels like a letdown spot for the Blue and Orange, which is why I’m backing the Hornets on the spread in this one.

The Knicks’ execution can be inconsistent on the road, as shown by their 9-16 ATS record as away favorites. This pattern of struggle away from Madison Square Garden was recently highlighted by their narrow, one-point escape against the Nets last Friday.

Given the significance of this game for Charlotte’s playoff seeding and the Knicks’ established tendency of starting slowly on the road, I am confident in picking the Hornets to cover the spread.

The Play: Hornets +1.5 (-120, BetMGM Sportsbook)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.