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The Jazz-Knicks line was listed at New York -6.5 with a total of 211 at Sportsbook.com.
The Knicks look to win back-to-back games for the first time since the blockbuster trade that landed Carmelo Anthony in New York, while the Jazz hope to get Tyrone Corbin his third win in 10 games since taking over for Jerry Sloan, when the teams meet Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Utah’s landslide has dropped it to 10th in the Western Conference and 1½ games out of the eighth spot. The Jazz have won four straight against the Knicks, but this time will be without Deron Williams, who was recently traded to the Nets, and Paul Millsap (17.1 PPG) who injured his knee in Saturday’s 109-102 win against the Kings. The Jazz will need Al Jefferson (18.2 PPG) to continue his exceptional play. He is averaging 26.1 PPG over his past eight games. Jefferson hasn’t had much success in the past at the Garden (11.3 PPG), but that may change with the undersized and lackluster defense of the Knicks’ frontcourt.
The Knicks are hoping to get Chauncey Billups (17.0 PPG) back after missing three games with a quad injury. Billups has averaged 23.0 PPG with New York and would love to help the team win back-to-back games for the first time since winning three in a row from Feb. 12-23. Carmelo Anthony (25.1 PPG) said he is ready to go after being poked in the eye in the 92-79 win Sunday over the Hawks. Anthony had a poor game, scoring only 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting. Anthony averaged 28.2 PPG as a Nugget in 13 career games against the Jazz. The Knicks also may be getting back two key reserves, Ronny Turiaf and Bill Walker, who have been slowed down by sore knees.
The Jazz are 8-23 ATS in their past 31 games and 10-17 ATS versus teams with a winning record. Utah also does not like getting in shootouts where it is 14-20 ATS against poor defensive teams (allowing 99.0 PPG or more) and 12-18 ATS against good offensive teams (score 99.0 PPG or more). New York, on the other hand, is 18-10 ATS against teams who score 99.0 PPG or more and 18-8 ATS against teams with a winning record. The Knicks also are 10-3 ATS coming off an upset win, 7-1 ATS against Northwest opponents and 10-3 ATS playing on back-to-back days.
