The New York Knicks (7-6) take part in the last outing of a three-game homestand when the Utah Jazz (6-8) visit them at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
Coming in having won seven of their last nine games, the Knicks lost in heartbreaking fashion by the score of 104-101 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. New York held a 73-50 lead with just 2:12 left in the third quarter before being outscored 54-28 the rest of the way. The Cavaliers made nine three-pointers in the fourth quarter led by Kyle Korver who connected on five.
Utah lost 109-98 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and have now been defeated in five out of their last six games.
The Timberwolves poured it on the Jazz to start the game jumping to a 33-14 lead after one quarter.
Expected starting lineups
Jazz: PG - Ricky Rubio, SG - Donovan Mitchell, SF - Joe Ingles, PF - Jonas Jerebko, C - Derrick Favors
Knicks: PG - Jarrett Jack, SG - Tim Hardaway Jr., SF - Courtney Lee, PF - Kristaps Porzingis, C - Enes Kanter
Team leaders
Jazz: Scoring - Rodney Hood 15.7, Rebounding - Rudy Gobert 10.5 (Gobert is injured, second-leading rebounder is Derrick Favors at 5.4), Assists - Ricky Rubio 5.6
Knicks: Scoring - Kristaps Porzingis 29.5, Rebounding - Enes Kanter 11.0, Assists - Jarrett Jack 5.5
Injuries
Jazz: Out - Dante Exum (shoulder), Joe Johnson (wrist), Rudy Gobert (knee)
Knicks: Out - Ron Baker (shoulder), Questionable - Willy Hernangomez (illness)
Things to know
Utah has looked much worse defensively the past two games since defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert got injured.
They have allowed an average of 107.5 points on 49% shooting. In their first 12 games with Gobert in the lineup, they gave up an average of just 99.1 points on 44.8% shooting.
That bodes well for a Knicks team that is third in the NBA as of Tuesday shooting 47.8% from the field. New York had shot at least 50% in five straight contests until Monday’s loss to Cleveland.
Kristaps Porzingis played well in the two games against the Jazz last season averaging 26 points and 7.5 rebounds. He went 18-35 from the field and 6-14 from three-point territory.
Jazz/Knicks all-time history
The Jazz and Knicks have met 94 times in the regular season with both teams winning 47 times. The Jazz holds a slight 37-36 edge since they moved to Utah from New Orleans.
Utah swept the two-game series last season, and they have won five of their last six meetings with the Knicks. Rudy Gobert was dominant in their last game versus New York which was played at Madison Square Garden. He finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks, but he will not play on Wednesday due to injury.
