Bryan Armetta shares his preview, prediction and pick for Friday’s game between the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks.

Defending home court is the sign of a true NBA contender. In that regard, few teams are better than the Knicks. This season, New York has posted a 11-1 record at Madison Square Garden. That makes any trip to the Big Apple a challenge, especially for a rebuilding Jazz squad.

Can Utah make things interesting tonight at the World’s Most Famous Arena? Below is my preview, prediction and pick for Friday’s game between the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks.

The Knicks are 15.5-point favorites (-110) over the Jazz on DraftKings Sportsbook. New York is favored at -1200 on the moneyline. The total is set at 240.5 points.

Jazz vs. Knicks prediction, preview

New York wields one of the best starting fives in all of basketball. However, this team revolves primarily around two men, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the latter, it’s been another terrific season; JB has notched 27.6 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field. KAT has been productive as well, posting 22.7 points and 12.0 rebounds to go with 47/34/88 shooting splits. The pair have led the Knicks to a 120.2 offensive rating, sixth-best in basketball.

On the other side of the ball, things haven’t been quite as consistent for New York. Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges are terrific on the wings, but perimeter defense has been an issue. Teams are knocking down 14.8 three-pointers per game vs. the Knicks, tied for fourth-worst in the NBA. That’s due in part to the absence of OG Anunoby. The forward hasn’t suited up since November 12th due to a hamstring injury. With that being said, he’s been upgraded to questionable ahead of tonight’s contest. Even in a limited role, getting the defensive specialist back would be a major boon for the ‘Bockers.

With or without Anunoby, taking down New York on the road is a tall order. That’s especially true for the Jazz, on the second leg of a back-to-back. Granted, the team doesn’t have to travel far following Thursday’s win over Brooklyn. Still, it’s difficult to have any confidence in an eight-win group. With that being said, Utah does roster a few players that could make some noise tonight. It all starts with Lauri Markkanen, currently enjoying a career year. Through 21 games, the former All-Star is averaging 28.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. It’s no surprise that the Jazz have shown major improvement on offense this season.

With that being said, Utah doesn’t offer up much resistance on defense. In fairness, losing rim protector Walker Kessler (shoulder) was an unfortunate setback. Without their starting center, it’s been difficult for the Jazz to get stops. That should be music to the ears of Towns, fresh off of a 35-point performance vs. Charlotte on Wednesday. Teams are averaging 124.6 points per game against Utah, the NBA’s second-worst mark.

Jazz vs. Knicks pick, best bet

Despite their win last night, the 8-13 Jazz don’t inspire much confidence in bettors. Still, a 15.5-point spread is about as big as it gets. When these clubs last met, New York earned a 119-103 victory. In fairness, Utah does look improved compared to last season’s 17-win squad, at least on offense. Even if Anunoby does come back tonight, the Knicks could still have some trouble defending the three. That’s enough to expect plenty of points tonight at MSG.

Best Bet: Jazz vs. Knicks over 240.5 total points (-110)