Knicks vs Suns: NBA Matchup Preview, Odds, and Injury Updates

The New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns are set to face off in a key NBA matchup on Wednesday night, with both teams trending in opposite directions. The Knicks, coming off a 134-106 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday, have won three consecutive games and hold a 8-6 record. In contrast, the Suns have lost four straight games, including a 109-99 defeat to the Orlando Magic, and stand at 9-6.

The game will be played at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, where the Suns have a strong home record of 5-2. However, the Suns will be without key players Kevin Durant (calf injury) and Bradley Beal (ankle injury), while Jusuf Nurkic is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. This depletion of their roster has significantly impacted their performance, particularly on offense, which has been the fifth-worst in the NBA over the last four games without Durant and Beal.

The Knicks, led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, are averaging 116.9 points per game and have shown improvement in their defense, despite struggles at the rim. Towns is averaging 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds, while Brunson is contributing 24.4 points and 7.1 assists per game.

Devin Booker remains a crucial player for the Suns, averaging 23.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. Tyus Jones has also been significant, posting his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 assists in a recent game against Minnesota.

The betting odds favor the Knicks, with a spread of -5.5 points and a moneyline of -254. The over/under for total points is set at 222.5. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has a strong track record in NBA predictions, is leaning towards the under and suggests that one side of the spread hits 60% of the time.

Historically, the Suns have dominated the series, winning 10 of the last 12 meetings and leading the all-time regular-season series 72-66. However, given the current form and injury situation, the Knicks are seen as favorites to win this matchup.