🏀 The Knicks Have Won 7 Straight

Two of the hottest teams in the NBA face off in the world's most famous arena tonight. The Knicks play host to the Jazz, and while the latter has gone 2-3 in their last five, they were 15-4 throughout December and January. Meanwhile, the Knicks have posted a 12-2 record since the acquisition of OG Anunoby. This is an underrated game 👀 (2 min read)

Author

Will Gendron
January 30, 2024

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Knicks Tape

At the end of the 2022 NBA season, with Steph Curry hoisting yet another Larry O’Brien trophy, who would have thought that Lauri Markkanen and Jalen Brunson-led teams would be appointment viewing 👀

  • At the time, Brunson was viewed as a great complementary piece, capable of fitting alongside a star but not necessarily cut out to lead a team as a lead ball-handler and shot-creator. Wrong

  • Meanwhile, Markkanen was largely used as salary filler for trades following an unremarkable start to his career. Now look at his play with added touches in a more free-flowing offense. Sometimes development isn’t linear no matter how badly we want it to be

Julius Randle has been integral to the Knicks’ regular season success. The guy is a walking double-double (he’s averaging 24 PPG and 9.2 RPG this season), and when engaged, plays with a physicality that simply wears down opposing teams. He also isn’t too shabby a playmaker — the bruising forward is posting 5 APG as well 😤

With all of that being said, Randle will be sidelined for the next few weeks while he nurses a shoulder dislocation. That still doesn’t really change how I feel about the Knicks, a team that has been setting the league on fire since trading for OG Anunoby, who slots perfectly into how they want to play: A defense first team with high-motor players that impose their size onto whoever they play 💪

  • Over their last 14 games (since the trade), the Knicks have been the best defense in the league, allowing 105.5 PPG

  • Additionally, they also have posted the best net rating in that same stretch, outscoring other teams by 15.8 points. They are also scoring 121.3 PPG, which is good for the fifth best offense during this period

The Jazz, despite the .500 record, have some parallels to the Knicks over in the Western conference 👇

  • Led by Markkanen, who doesn’t operate like a primary creator in that he can score lethally off-ball, the Jazz are scoring 124.5 PPG over the last 14 games, which is the second best offense in the league, right behind the Clippers

  • Utah has six players averaging at least 10 PPG, including Collin Sexton, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Markkanen, Talen Horton-Tucker and Keyonte George

From mid-December to mid-January the Jazz went 15-4, which is just a mind-boggling figure, considering they don’t have a true superstar. But there are very few weaknesses on the team, and the rotation has blended defensive and offensive minded players seamlessly 🤝

These two surprising teams play tonight at MSG at 7:30PM, where the Knicks are 16-5 on the season. New York has won seven straight games after beating the Hornets last night, but the spread expects this one to be close 👇

  • Spread: Knicks -4.5

  • Moneyline: Knicks -186, Jazz +156

  • Over/Under: 229

Trivia Question: OG Anunoby hails from England — the swingman moved to Missouri during his high school years for the increased competition/exposure. What other British hooper managed to find NBA success and even make the All-Star team?

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

Even though the Knicks are coming off a back-to-back, I still like them at home against generally anyone. They’ve posted a 16-5 record in MSG, with two of those losses occurring in the first week of the season. Give me NYK moneyline along with the over in the Celtics and Pacers game on the TNT slate. Check out my parlay 👇

  • Knicks ML vs. Jazz: -186

  • Pacers @ Celtics Over 245 Total Points: -112

$100 on this bet would win you $191 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win an Overtime hoodie*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: Luol Deng is the most successful UK-bred NBA Player, having made two NBA All-Star teams in 2012 and 2013

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Many will enter, one (1) will win. Void where prohibited. Open to legal US & DC residents 18 years or older. Prize is one Overtime hoodie. Approximate retail value (“ARV”): $65. Entries are accepted until 11:59 pm EST on the day after the bet hits. See Campaign Terms for additional terms. ©2023 Overtime Sports, Inc. All rights reserved.