PRO BASKETBALL — December 17
NEW YORK at CHICAGO
(Bulls -3, Total 202.5) — [private] The Knicks dropped their last game, a 94-87 decision to Charlotte, but what this team has been doing since benching Nate Robinson has actually been kind of terrific. New York has won four of its last five games, actually beating Atlanta and New Orleans on the road. So the point has been made – the team does not need the high-flying, high-scoring Robinson to win games. And team chemistry is better as well. Even with Larry Hughes possibly out for this game, Robinson isn’t coming back to action – that’s how strongly Mike D’Antoni feels about it. Chicago has covered one of its last eight games, and lost six of its last seven. When you are shooting just 42% (under 39% in three of the last four games) and have made only four three-pointers in the last three games, you are not operating efficiently on offense. Meanwhile, the Knicks have made 33 from beyond the arc over the last three contests.
THE PLAY: NEW YORK -3 ***
(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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