Attention all basketball fans: the stakes are higher than ever as the NBA Cup narrows down to its final eight teams, and tonight’s quarterfinal clash between the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors promises to be a thriller. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the Knicks are favored by 4.5 points, the Raptors’ home-court advantage and recent defensive vulnerabilities could flip the script. Griffin Wong breaks down the best prop bets for this high-stakes matchup, and trust us, you won’t want to miss this analysis.
The Emirates NBA Cup has whittled down 22 teams to just eight contenders, all vying for the second-most prestigious trophy in professional basketball. Tonight marks the start of the knockout stage, with two Eastern Conference quarterfinals taking place at the higher seeds’ home courts before the action moves to Las Vegas for the semifinals and championship. And this is the part most people miss: the Toronto Raptors, the East’s No. 2 seed, clinched their group early and host the No. 3 seed New York Knicks at 8:30 p.m. ET. Both teams are among the conference’s top four, with the Knicks at 16-7 and the Raptors at 15-10.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the Knicks are 4.5-point favorites (-192 on the Moneyline), with the point total set at 227.5. The Raptors, meanwhile, are +160 underdogs. Below, we dive into three prop bets that could pay off big tonight.
Karl-Anthony Towns O22.5 Points (-106): Towns sat out the Knicks’ win over the Orlando Magic due to calf soreness, but with ample rest before their next game, he’s likely to return tonight. Here’s the kicker: despite a slow start to the season, Towns has scored 23 or more points in four of his last eight games. Toronto’s defense has struggled against big men, allowing the seventh-most makes at the rim on the 11th-highest percentage. Towns, who’s shooting 69.5% in the restricted area over his last nine games, could exploit this weakness. Plus, the Raptors have conceded the fifth-most wide-open threes in their last eight games—a perfect opportunity for Towns, who’s historically lethal from deep.
Immanuel Quickley 3+ Three-Pointers Made (-116): Quickley, a former Knicks draft pick, has been on fire this season, hitting three or more threes in 13 of 25 games. But here’s the twist: the Knicks have given up the ninth-most uncontested three-point attempts per game, and opponents have been unusually cold lately. If Quickley’s accuracy rebounds toward his 42.8% mark from 2024-25, this bet could be a slam dunk. Even with his questionable status due to illness, his history of generating wide-open looks makes this a compelling pick.
OG Anunoby 2+ Steals (-126): Anunoby has been a defensive juggernaut for the Knicks, averaging a career-high steal rate. With him on the court, New York’s defense ranks second in the league—without him, it drops to seventh-worst. Here’s where it gets interesting: the Raptors, missing RJ Barrett due to injury, have allowed the eighth-most steals per game in their last eight matchups. Their ball-movement style, combined with a young roster, has led to turnovers, and Anunoby’s ball-hawking skills could capitalize big time.
Controversial Question: With the Raptors’ defensive weaknesses and the Knicks’ offensive firepower, is New York’s 4.5-point spread too conservative? Or will Toronto’s home-court advantage and recent underdog success prove the oddsmakers wrong? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is sure to spark some heated opinions!
