Utah Jazz versus New York Knicks Pick Prediction NBA Pro Basketball Odds Preview 3-18-2013

The 38-26 New York Knicks will close out his long western road trip as they travel on back to back nights to face the rested 34-32 Utah Jazz in an NBA pro basketball game on Monday night. Tip off time from Utah is scheduled for 10:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN.

The odds from this NBA game will be out on Monday afternoon as Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler are listed as questionable with a knee injury.

The Knicks and Jazz met back on March 9th with New York posting the 113-84 home victory against Utah as a -5 ½ point betting favorite. The game ended over 191 ½ points.

New York has a road record of 16-16 on the current campaign. They lose their fourth straight all on this five game west coast road trip after a 93-80 defeat on Sunday to the LA Clippers as a +13 ½ point underdog. The total came in at under 193 ½ points. The Knicks were held to just 37 first half points. They shot just 35.8% from the floor and connected on 12 of 26 three point shots. New York allowed the Clippers 45.3% shooting and to pull down 12 more rebounds. J.R. Smith came off the bench for 17 points and 6 rebounds in the Knicks loss. With Carmelo sidelined the Knicks offense has been horrid. They have scored 94 or less points in six of their past seven games. New York has fallen to 23rd in the NBA in field goal shooting hit on just 43.8% from the field.

Utah on their home court this year is 24-8 straight up. They capture the Memphis Grizzlies in an ideal situation in the Jazz’ 90-84 home victory against the Grizzlies as a -3 point betting favorite. The game went under 184 points. Utah was the rested team while Memphis was playing a high altitude back to back having played at Denver the night before. The Jazz held tired Memphis Grizzlies team to just 34 second half points in victory. Utah shot 43.7% from the floor and 5 of 16 from three point land. They allowed the Grizzlies 42.9% from the field and forced 6 more Memphis turnovers. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 17 points and 8 rebounds on 5 of 10 shooting. Utah’s struggles this season has come on road defense. At home they give up just 94.9 points a game. The team averages 100.4 points per game along with 46.4% shooting at home. Utah sits a ½ game behind the LA Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.