Two teams trying to get back into playoff contention meet on Friday night on ESPN, as the New York Knicks visit the Utah Jazz in NBA betting online action. The Knicks have dropped seven of their last ten games to fall three games out of the top eight in the East, while the Jazz have also lost seven of ten to fall five games out of eighth place in the West. Let’s look at the matchup and NBA picks.
New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz
Date and Time: Friday, January 19, 2018, 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Utah -5, O/U 204.5
Knicks vs. Jazz TV Coverage: ESPN
The Knicks are playing the third game in a long 7-game road trip, as they visit Utah on Friday. The Knicks won their first game on the trip, as they beat Brooklyn, but New York played poorly on Wednesday in Memphis and lost to a short-handed Grizzlies team. Head coach Jeff Hornacek was very unhappy after the game, saying that the team played poor defense. “We came out and I’m not happy with not closing out on guys, giving guys easy shots.”
The Knicks are 20-25 on the season and have five more tough games out West against the Jazz, Lakers, Warriors, Nuggets and Suns. New York is just 8-13 against the NBA betting online spread on the road this season, with 12 games going over and nine going under. They are scoring about 104 points per game and giving up 105 per contest.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz are coming off a 120-105 win at Sacramento on Wednesday night. It was a rare road win for Utah who has just five road wins all season. Utah has been much better at home than on the road, as they are 13-8 straight up and 13-8 ATS in Salt Lake City, with seven games going over and 14 going under. They are scoring 101 points per game and giving up about 102 per contest.
The Jazz are still without center Rudy Gobert who is not expected to return from a knee injury until later this month. Utah also lost Thabo Sefolosha to an ACL injury and he is out for the season.
Key Stat
The Knicks are 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Utah. The Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Western Conference. The Jazz are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Eastern Conference. The Jazz are 3-9 against the NBA betting online number in their last 12 vs. the Atlantic.
The Over is 5-0 in the Knicks last 5 overall. The Over is 5-1 in the Knicks last 6 road games. The Under is 5-0 in Utah’s last 5 home games. The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in this series.
New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz Picks
The Knicks have simply owned this series against the spread of late and they should be in a foul mood after losing in Memphis on Wednesday. I will take the points at the online sportsbook and go with the Knicks on Friday night.
NBA Betting Online Pick: New York +5
NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Knicks 108, Jazz 105