The New York Knicks and Utah Jazz are both trying to hang around in the playoff race, but the margin of slim down the stretch is slim for both. Utah will host the Knicks in a regular season game this week which is a crucial one for both sides to grab.
Utah has fallen into a tailspin and is hoping to right the ship. The Jazz should be the favorites in this one as they have a slightly better team and is at home. The Knicks have been more competitive than many people believed they would be in 2017-18 but really need to play well down the stretch in order to finish as one of the top eight seeds in the Eastern Conference.
Even though the calendar is still in January both of these teams are running out of time to make a push up the standings so this game is big for both sides. It could be a competitive affair.
This war on the floor will go down Friday, January 19, 2018, at 10:30 p.m. ET at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Knicks are 20-24 straight up and 23-21 against the spread on the season. They have done well covering at home but have done so in only eight of 20 attempts on the road. New York is 16-18 against the spread as the underdog on the year.
The Jazz is 17-26 straight up and 21-22 against the spread. Utah has covered in 13 of 21 attempts at home this season and is 7-8 against the spread as the favorite.
Key Stat
15. That’s the number of losses for Utah in its past 19 games. Utah began the season 13-11 and seemed like a pleasant surprise in the Western Conference, but the wheels have come off since them. Utah has really been affected by the absence of standout center Rudy Gobert, who has missed more than a month with a sprained knee.
He won’t play in this one, which leaves the Jazz vulnerable down low. Gobert is averaging 11.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game this season. He is expected to miss at least another week. The Jazz are hoping to stay afloat without him but have not done a good job of it.
Utah has lost five of its past six games heading into a game on Wednesday against the Kings.
Player To Watch
Kristaps Porzingis —The Knicks’ young star is a big reason why the team has remained competitive after the offseason trade of Carmelo Anthony. Porzingis has taken the reins as the team’s go-to player and is flourishing with more opportunities.
He is averaging 23.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Porzingis is shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range. He may try to do some more work down low in this one without Gobert to slow him down, but Porzingis’ gift is his ability to shoot from the perimeter as well.
If the Jazz can’t slow him down, they will be susceptible to losing this game at home.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Knicks seem to have a more realistic shot at making the postseason than Utah, and a road win here would be a big boost. While this game figures to be close, don’t expect a young New York team to come away with that victory.
While the Jazz has struggled of late this is one game it should be able to squeak out. Check to see where the spread comes in closer to tipoff.
NBA Odds: Jazz 101, Knicks 98
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