Game Preview: Knicks vs Jazz, January 1, 2025

01/01/2025 01:00 PM

The Knicks seek their ninth in a row when the face the lowly Jazz of Utah on New Year's Day.

Happy New Year, folks. The New York Knicks (23-10) are back in action to start the next trip around the sun right with a tilt against the Utah Jazz (7-24).

When the two teams last played—in Utah on November 23—the Jazz defeated the Knicks 121-106. Lauri Markkanen led the home team with 34 points, and Collin Sexton contributed significantly by making four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Although the Knicks mounted a 17-0 run in the third quarter, 'twas all for naught. The victory ended a four-game losing streak and stunned your confident P&T scribes.

Since that game, New York won 14 of 17 and Utah lost 12 of 15. Statistically, the Jazz are about what can be expected from a team with one of the league's worst records. They offer little defensive resistance and rate 19th in the league for offense. They are decent rebounders, as New York discovered, and sit squarely in the middle of the league for three-point shooting percentage.

In the backcourt tonight, the Jazz will field Keyonte George (15.8 PPG, 5.7 APG) and Collin Sexton (17.4 PPG, 3.8 APG). The latter is the team's best three-point shooter, hitting 42% on 4.5 attempts per game.

Jazz forward John Collins is a game-time decision. He averages 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and we assume he misses Atlanta. Fellow big man Markkanen has averaged 19.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in his 26 games and is shooting 37% from downtwon on 7.8 attempts per. Rounding out the first five is sophomore center Walker Kessler, who is averaging 11 rebounds, 10.4 points, and 2.8 blocks.

For New York, Jalen Brunson is listed as questionable due to right calf tightness, and we're beginning to doubt that Kevin McCullar, Jr. exists. Please send photographic proof of the rookie if you can.

Prediction

ESPN.com picks the Knicks to win at 78%. We like it. Jalen will probably play, but wouldn't it be great if the Knicks could gather a hefty lead early and let him rest through the second half? If wishes were wings. . . . The Knicks will need to play better perimeter defense tonight against a team that can hit their open threes. Look for the home team to get their act together in the second half and start 2025 with a +10 victory. Nine straight? You betcha.

Game Details

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Mecca, Manhattan, NYC
TV: MSG, NBATV
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