New York Knicks at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 12/29/2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New York Knicks head to Vivint Smart Home Arena to take on the Utah Jazz on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The opening line for this game has Utah as 4.5 point favorites.

The Knicks have a record of 9-27. They are 5th in the Atlantic Division. They have a point differential of -7.7 as they average 107.8 points per game while giving up 115.6 per contest. The Jazz have an overall record of 17-19 this season. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They average 106.9 points per game and surrender 105.9, good for a point differential of 1.0.

Valuable New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 16-18-1 against the spread this season

The New York Knicks are 19-16-0 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 17-17-1 against the spread this season

The Utah Jazz are 17-18-0 against the over/under this year

Key New York Knicks Injuries

12/27/18 G Tim Hardaway Jr. Illness is questionable Saturday vs Utah
10/11/18 F Kristaps Porzingis Knee is out indefinitely

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/28/18 SF Jae Crowder Thumb injured last game, is questionable Saturday vs New York

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway comes into this game averaging 20.8 points per contest while playing 33.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Enes Kanter averages 14.7 points per contest in 26.9 minutes per game. He averages 1.9 assists per game and 10.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell scores 20.3 points per contest while playing 32.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.5 rebounds per contest and has 3.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Ricky Rubio averages 12.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.7 rebounds per game and has 6.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

New York averages 107.8 points per contest, which is 22nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is -7.7 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 29th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 23rd in the NBA. They average 45.3 boards per contest and 19.8 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 20th with 13.6 per game. The Knicks allow 115.6 points per contest, which is 26th in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 25th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.0 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they allow 25.8 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 23rd in the NBA with 106.9 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.03. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 25th in the league. They are 23rd in the NBA in rebounding with 43.8 boards per contest and 11th in assists per game with 24.7. The Jazz are 3rd in turnovers per contest with 15.5. The Jazz give up 105.9 points per game, which ranks them 6th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 19th and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 21.3 dimes allowed per game and 3rd with 42.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz are 22nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Knicks are 25th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.8, and their defensive rating of 114.4 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 30th. As a team they are 30th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league. New York is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 3rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league. The Jazz are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.4, and their defensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 99.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 12th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Knicks/Jazz NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take New York +4.5

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