The Utah Jazz have the longest active win streak right now in the NBA, and that’s something the New York Knicks aim to break when they face each other again this Wednesday.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, January 27, at 10 AM, Manila time
HOME TEAM: Utah Jazz (12-4, 5-2at home)
The Jazz are the best team no one is talking about. Utah extended its win streak to eight games after beating the Golden State Warriors at home last Sunday, 127-108. The last time they lost was back on Jan. 7 against the Knicks on the road, 112-100.
Utah has flipped the switch since and has not looked back, as the Jazz continue to play sweet music. Over their last eight games, the Jazz have averaged 117.9 points on 48.7%shooting from the field. They have been lethal from deep in that span in which they drained an average of 19.1 threes on 43.7% accuracy. The Jazz are the most prolific outside-shooting team so far this season, as they are making 16.8 3-pointers on 40.3% shooting.
If the Jazz, who are 5-2 against the spread at home this season, keep hitting their threes like this, then it’s likely going to be a different story against the Knicks this time around. They went just 14 of 44 in the first meeting with New York, with Donovan Mitchell going just 8 of 23 from the field for 18 points.
With the way Mitchell is playing lately, it’s hard to go against him putting up bigger and more efficient numbers this Wednesday. Mitchell has averaged 27.3 points on 51 FG% in the last eight Jazz games.
ROAD TEAM: New York Knicks (8-10, 5-6 on the road)
The Knicks will finish a four-game road trip this Wednesday against the Jazz in Salt Lake City. This is going to be the second time these two teams will meet, with the Knicks winning the first one back in Manhattan on Jan. 7, 112-100.
The Knicks enter this game on the heels of back-to-back losses to the Sacramento Kings (103-94) and to the Portland Trail Blazers (116-113) last Saturday and Monday, respectively. Bettors who had the Knick’s spread against Portland had Immanuel Quickley to thank for, as the rookie made a late-basket to help New York pull off a backdoor cover as 4-point road underdogs.
The Knicks have been pretty good against the spread when they’re away from the Big Apple. In fact, they are 9-9 against the spread in road games this season.
Speaking of Quickley, the Kentucky product is looking forward to making a proper introduction to the Jazz, whom New York defeated earlier this month at home. Quickley barely played in that game, but is coming off a 31-point explosion against the Blazers.
Julius Randle needs no introduction, though. He had 30 points and 16 rebounds in that win over Utah.
PREDICTIONS:
The Knicks are starting to flounder while the Jazz look like they can still play better. This scary Jazz team will beat New York in the rematch, 119-105.
