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Jazz vs. Knicks prediction and odds for Saturday, February 11
It’s a busy weekend for the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks, they were both in action last night and then have to get right back to it at Madison Square Garden tonight.
The Jazz went up North to Toronto and got a win over the Raptors, 122-116, with a very balanced scoring attack. Lauri Markkananen and Walker Kessler both had 23 points. The Jazz were a big surprise at the beginning of the year, but their general manager, Danny Ainge decided it was time to wave the white flag as they traded away Mike Conley, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt in a three-team deal with the Lakers and Timberwolves. It didn’t hurt them as they won in their first game without those pieces.
The Knicks might be hurt by their lack of action at the deadline. New York is 30-27 and in seventh in the Eastern Conference, but last night showed they aren’t ready to compete with the top teams in the East. However, they are still good enough to be home favorites against the 28-29 Jazz.
Jazz vs. Knicks odds, spread and total
Jazz vs. Knicks prediction and pick
Utah is going with a very interesting lineup after their moves at the deadline. They’re a very big team now, but they don’t sacrifice shooting with Markkanen and Kelly Olynk, a Danny Ainge favorite, at the 3 and 4. Last night it was Collin Sexton and Ochai Ogbaji in the backcourt. Like I said it’s an interesting lineup and it worked against the Raptors, but I’m not sure how viable that combination is long-term.
The Jazz starters played big minutes and as always, Tom Thibodeau had his main guys on the floor a lot in Philly last night. Jalen Brunson played 39 minutes, and Julius Randle and Quentin Grimes both played 37. Their starters played a combined 166 minutes the over is 4-1 the last five times that their starters played more than 160 minutes combined the previous day. The lack of rest will be a real factor in this one, because the over is also 4-0 in Utah’s last four games on zero days rest.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
