Knicks vs. Warriors injury report, odds, spread: Alec Bucks set to return; Andrew Wiggins could rest in second of back-to-back Thursday

The Golden State Warriors have won two straight games four different times this season but have yet to put together a three-game winning streak. They attempt that again Thursday at home vs. the New York Knicks, who also enter having won two in a row. The Knicks are expecting the return from injury of second-leading scorer Alec Burks, while it could be the Warriors sit Andrew Wiggins in the second of a back-to-back because of knee soreness. The Dubs are 4.5-point favorites on the William Hill Sportsbook NBA odds.

Burks, who played 48 games for the Warriors last season before a trade to Philadelphia, has been out since Dec. 27 with an ankle sprain but is being listed as probable by the Knicks for the first time since then. Burks was off to a fantastic start in his three games, averaging 20.7 points and shooting an absurd 66.7 percent (10-for-15) from three-point range. That would lead the NBA by a mile if Burks had enough games to qualify, but clearly that's not sustainable.

Fellow guard Austin Rivers is doubtful for Thursday with a sore right Achilles. He's averaging 8.3 points in 25.5 minutes per night.

The Knicks could use all the offensive help they can get as they rank last in the league in scoring at 100.6 ppg. However, they also rank first in scoring defense at 102.7 ppg – Tom Thibodeau-coached teams always are among the best defensive clubs. That the Warriors score more than 25.5 points in every quarter Thursday is a +320 yes-only prop at William Hill. 

Golden State crushed the visiting Spurs 121-99 on Wednesday, leading wire-to-wire behind 26 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Steph Curry. The rebounds tied a season high. The Warriors improved to 3-0 this year when scoring 120-plus points and 6-0 when scoring 110-plus. The Dubs shot 50 percent-or-better from the field for the fifth time this year and are 5-0 in those.

Wiggins was listed as questionable with knee soreness but did play as the former No. 1 overall pick had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes. There is some scuttlebutt the Dubs may sit him out of caution Thursday, but that may not be decided until a few hours before the 10 p.m. ET tipoff.

The past three times the Warriors entered a game on a two-game winning streak this season, this is what happened:

• Jan. 1 vs. Portland – lost 123-98 in their home opener, trailing by 15 after the first quarter
• Jan. 6 vs. LA Clippers – lost 108-101 in which Curry had just 13 points
• Jan. 12 vs. Indiana – lost 104-95 in which Curry was 7-for-17 for 20 points

New York won at Golden State last season 124-122 in OT. Prior to that, the Warriors had won the previous 10 matchups against the Knicks, including five at home. Golden State is 1-4 against the spread in its past five in the second of a B2B.

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