New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Picks Parlays and Bettin Predictions for December 9th 2025

Big Apple Battle North of the Border: Knicks vs. Raptors

The New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors are set for a high-stakes, Atlantic Division clash in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, and honestly, this one feels like it could get spicy. The Knicks are absolutely red-hot right now, winners of three straight and cruising into the knockout round with a dominant 7-1 run over their last eight games. They just blew the doors off the Magic, making a big statement. Jalen Brunson is playing like an All-NBA guy, running that offense with a real swagger.

The buzz around the game, though, is all about the injury report. This is where it gets tough for Toronto. Star forward RJ Barrett is out, getting a knee injection recently, which is a massive blow to the Raptors' scoring punch. And just hours before tip-off, their starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, got added to the report as questionable with an illness. Quickley, ironically, was Toronto's leading scorer in their last tilt against his former team, a game the Raptors lost badly, 116-94, just a couple weeks ago. That's a huge cloud hanging over Scotiabank Arena.

New York is playing their physical, Tom Thibodeau-patented basketball, and that kind of tough, connected play travels well for a single-elimination tournament game. The Raptors were perfect in Cup group play, 4-0, which is why they snagged this home game, but their recent form has been shaky—five losses in their last six games. 

The one bright spot for Toronto is Brandon Ingram. He's stepped up big time and they'll need him to be the man tonight, carrying the load on offense with all the injuries. Plus, the Knicks have their own injury concern, with Karl-Anthony Towns questionable due to calf tightness after missing Sunday's game. If he can't go, Mitchell Robinson will need to be a beast inside. The Knicks have owned this matchup, winning the last nine straight, and that kind of head-to-head dominance is hard to ignore, especially when a trip to Vegas for the semifinals is on the line.

Betting Picks & Predictions

The spread has moved a bit since the initial release, with the Knicks sitting as about a 4.5-point favorite on the road. The moneyline is hovering around New York -192, and the total points line is set at 226.5. That nine-game win streak the Knicks have against the Raptors? That's not just a trend, that’s a vibe. 

With RJ Barrett out, and Quickley’s status completely up in the air due to illness, the Raptors are just too shorthanded to keep up with Brunson and the surging Knicks. It’s hard to bet against New York’s momentum right now. I see the Knicks putting the clamps down defensively and continuing their dominance over Toronto, probably hitting the 115-120 range. Prediction: Knicks win and cover the spread.