New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs: Starting lineups, predictions, odds, how to watch

The San Antonio Spurs (3-4) head on the road Wednesday night to take on the New York Knicks (3-4) in Madison Square Garden.

The Spurs come to the Garden looking for a bounce-back win after a 152-111 shellacking against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. New York is looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season after the Knicks spoiled James Harden's Clippers debut in a 111-97 win over Los Angeles.

This is the first of two games this season between the Spurs and Knicks. The two teams will meet again March 29 in San Antonio.

The inter-conference matchup tips off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Here's everything you need to know.

2023 NBA standings: See where your team sits

Spurs vs. Knicks preview

After finishing last in the Western Conference last year, San Antonio's two wins against the Phoenix Suns last week showed promise. Rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama totaled 38 points and 10 rebounds in the second win against the Suns. Thirteen-time All-Star Kevin Durant took notice of Wembanyama's production already.

“His enthusiasm for the game − you can tell that through the TV and playing against him,” Durant said. ”He’s his own player, own person. He’s going to create his own lane and is much different than anyone else who has played.”

But those wins preceded a 123-116 overtime loss to Toronto in which the Spurs blew a 22-point lead and that decisive loss against Indiana.

With wing Devin Vassell out with a groin injury, Wembanyama is shouldering more of the scoring load. The rookie's averaging a team-high 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and will need to play well again to get the win over the Knicks.

New York traded off wins and losses in the first week of NBA action. The Knicks lost to the Celtics, beat the Hawks, fell to the Pelicans, and won on the road in Cleveland. A loss the next day to the Cavaliers, another loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, and that win over the Clippers brings them to 3-4.

The Knicks' trio of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle are leading the way on offense for New York. Brunson and Barrett are both scoring 22 points per game and the latter's shooting a fantastic 44% from three-point range this season.

Brunson's 45 points against the Bucks marked his fifth career 40-point game.

“He can make 3s, but he doesn't settle for 3s,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said after the game. “He puts the defender in tough positions, to where you almost, you have to foul. You're trying to defend hard like you're taught to, and he's having you at his mercy.”

Guard Immanuel Quickley is routinely providing a spark off the bench for New York, averaging 14.6 points per game.

The 2023-24 NBA season is still in the early goings but the Knicks are already second-best in the league in points allowed and second-worst in points scored per game. The Spurs, by contrast, are second-worst in points allowed per game and 14th in points scored.

Knicks vs. Spurs starting lineups

These are the projected starting lineups, according to RotoWire:

Knicks vs. Spurs injury news

Spurs:

Knicks: No injuries to report.

Spurs vs. Knicks line, betting odds

The Knicks are favored to win their second game in a row Wednesday night against the Spurs, per odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

• Spread: Knicks (-9.5)

• Moneyline: Knicks (-400); Spurs (+310)

• Over/under: 223.5

Spurs vs. Knicks predictions

Sportsbook Wire: Knicks 119, Spurs 105

Staff write, "New York has been chosen as the favorite in four games this year and has walked away with the win three times in those games."

Pickswise: Knicks -9.5 and over 224.0

Filip Tomic notes, "the Knicks have found ways to disappoint us early this season, but surely that won’t be the case against a sub-par Spurs team... playing fast without much defense usually results in a lot of high-scoring games and that has been the case with San Antonio."

ESPN: Knicks have a 81% chance to beat the Spurs

ESPN Analytics rates the Knicks right in the middle of the NBA on the site's Basketball Power Index (BPI). Meanwhile, the Spurs are at the bottom of the BPI rankings by a wide margin. The difference between the Spurs and the Portland Trailblazers ahead of them is equal to the gap between the Knicks in 15th and the Pelicans in 20th. With that, the site's picking New York to get the win.

Winners and Whiners: Knicks -9.5

Staff writers say, "the Vassell injury changes the attack for San Antonio, and they will not be able to keep up with New York. Take the Knicks to win and cover."

How to watch Knicks vs. Spurs: TV channel, streaming info

When: Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m., ET

Where: Madison Square Garden in New York City

Cable TV: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN app, NBA League Pass, FuboTV

Stream the game: Catch the latest NBA action on FuboTV

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks vs. Spurs: Starting lineups, odds, predictions, how to watch