Utah Jazz Vs. New York Knicks: Predictions, Starting Lineups (1/30/24)
New York barely batted an eye in its first game without Julius Randle, but that was against the Charlotte Hornets. Now, the Knicks host the Utah Jazz, one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference. Can the Knicks keep up their impressive play on Tuesday night? Find out through our Utah Jazz vs. New York Knicks predictions and matchup preview below!
Utah Jazz Vs. New York Knicks Prediction
No team has been on more of a roll than the New York Knicks in the past month (give or take a few days), winning 13 of their past 15 games, including last night’s road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. In that game, the Knicks were without Julius Randle, who will be out for several weeks after dislocating his shoulder, and newly acquired forward O.G. Anunoby due to elbow inflammation.
Across the NBA, no team has had a higher net rating in the past 15 games than the Knicks (+16.2) or has had a better record 13-2 in that span. Now, they will face off against a quietly surging Utah Jazz squad at home.
Utah has been almost equally as impressive as New York, logging wins in 14 of its past 20 games. The key shift for the Jazz has been the insertion of Collin Sexton into the starting lineup; he has been playing exceptional basketball as of late, posting close to 22 points and five assists per game in 25 games as a starter this season. Further, the Jazz have won 17 of those 25 games, which is substantially better than when he came off the bench for them.
So, can the Randle-less Knicks hold off the Jazz at Madison Square Garden, where they have a 16-5 record in the 2023-24 season?
Until we know the status of O.G. Anunoby, we are going to hold off from making an official play. Without Anunoby, the Knicks could have some size issues against a massive Utah frontcourt that ranks second in the NBA in total rebounding rate. While they survived with him sidelined against the horrible Charlotte Hornets, that is hardly an indication of what it will look like if he misses this matchup.
If O.G. Anunoby plays, we will back the Knicks and lay the points. We need to re-evaluate if he misses, but we will most likely stay off of this one.
Utah Jazz Vs. New York Knicks Prediction: Knicks -4.5, if Anunoby plays
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Utah Jazz Vs. New York Knicks Best Odds
Despite the shoulder injury to Julius Randle a few games ago, the New York Knicks are still four-point favorites against a tough Utah Jazz team. Utah has Moneyline odds of +145 to win at Madison Square Garden against one of the hottest teams in the NBA, while the Knicks are -175 to win their 14th game in their last 16 outings. The Over/Under for this matchup hangs around 233.5 points, with -110 odds on both sides.
Utah Jazz Starting Lineup
PG: Collin Sexton
SG: Kris Dunn
SF: Simone Fontecchio
PF: Lauri Markkanen
C: John Collins
New York Knicks Starting Lineup
PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Donte DiVincenzo
SF: Josh Hart
PF: O.G. Anunoby
C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Utah Jazz Vs. New York Knicks Injuries
Utah has no injuries listed on its injury report, so unless someone is a late scratch, the Jazz should be fully healthy ahead of this non-conference matchup against the New York Knicks.
Meanwhile, New York has a few key players injured, including Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Julius Randle (shoulder). They will continue to be out for the foreseeable future. O.G. Anunoby missed the Knicks’ last game due to elbow inflammation but is listed as day-to-day, so keep an eye on his availability ahead of this game.
