Jazz vs Knicks

Jalen Brunson leads a Knicks group that has won five of its last six and turned Madison Square Garden into an 11-1 fortress, while the Jazz limp in on a back‑to‑back with a 7-13 record and a 2-3 mark over their last five games. With Utah’s frontcourt depth gutted by Walker Kessler’s season-ending shoulder surgery and ongoing absences or limitations for Jusuf Nurkić, Georges Niang, and Kevin Love, Lauri Markkanen’s strong history against New York (25.0 points and 9.5 boards per game vs the Knicks last season) is fighting uphill against a deeper, healthier Knicks rotation even if OG Anunoby is only just returning from a hamstring issue and Landry Shamet remains out. New York already handled Utah comfortably at home last season even without Brunson, and with Brunson now playing at an MVP-discussion level and Karl-Anthony Towns plus Mikal Bridges providing additional star power, the talent gap and situational spot point strongly toward another Knicks win despite Utah’s recent offensive uptick. Because the -1100 price offers minimal return even on a high-confidence outcome, Knicks moneyline is a recommendation with a Grade B for likelihood and limited monetary value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 05/12/2025 09:51am

Utah’s offense has been cooking at around 118 points per night behind Markkanen and emerging playmaker Keyonte George, but their 2-3 stretch and a taxing road back‑to‑back into New York set up clear fatigue risk against a Knicks team that prefers a slower, more methodical pace than the Jazz and has generally defended better at home. New York games have been high scoring, yet the Knicks still sit several points per game below a 239 total on both sides of the ball, and last season’s 119-103 Knicks home win over Utah landed at just 222 despite absurd rebounding and efficiency from Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart. With Utah’s big-man rotation thinned by injuries and New York potentially getting some defensive lift if Anunoby is cleared, this number bakes in a ceiling outcome from both offenses in a spot where the Knicks can control tempo, attack inside, and gradually squeeze the game rather than trade track-meet possessions. I lean to the Under 239 at -110 with a Grade B- given a modest edge rooted in pace, situational fatigue for Utah, and New York’s ability to tighten defensively at home, while acknowledging that late garbage-time scoring and the Jazz’s streaky three-point shooting keep volatility in play. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 05/12/2025 09:51am

Lauri Markkanen’s track record against the Knicks (nearly 19 points and 7 rebounds per game for his career in this matchup, including a 34-point eruption last season) gives Utah at least a path to hang around, even as they arrive in New York with a losing record, a 2-3 skid over their last five, and a front line missing Walker Kessler for the year and likely still managing injuries to Nurkić, Niang, and Love. New York’s current form, with Brunson in All‑NBA gear, Towns piling up efficient 20-plus-point nights, and an 11-1 home mark, absolutely supports their status as a massive favorite, but that same strength plus a dense schedule can also encourage Mike Brown to manage minutes and ease off the gas late, especially if Anunoby is just ramping back up and rotation guards like Shamet are sidelined. Given Utah’s top-10 level offensive rating and George’s recent breakout performances, the Jazz have enough shot-making to scrape through the non‑Markkanen minutes and backdoor a number as large as +15.5 even if the Knicks control the game wire to wire, so I’ll reluctantly take Jazz +15.5 at -110 with a Grade C+, framing it more as a value-driven play on an inflated spread than a strong conviction that Utah keeps this close. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 05/12/2025 09:51am