by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 22, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Where to watch: MSG, BSSC
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
WynnBet: Knicks -3
BetOnline: Knicks -4
Season record
Clippers: 23-24 (8th place, Western Conference)
Knicks: 22-24 (11th place, Eastern Conference)
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Clippers - Knicks preview, analysis and prediction
Offense has been hard to come by for the New York Knicks over the last few games. Their three game losing streak has been a mixture of unimpressive and somewhat alarming in the matter of three days.
But I feel confident in the Knicks getting back on track when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, because the Clippers remain such a weird group in which I don't understand if they are trying to be competitive without Paul George, or if they are just skating by the slimmest of margins.
The Knicks are coming off perhaps their worst performance of the season. And I know that is a lot to handle when you're talking about 46 games into a season, but when you only score 91 points against the New Orleans Pelicans and only shoot 37% from the field while missing 29 three point attempts, there is a lot of pause for concern in where this losing streak can go.
When Julius Randle is held to just four points and misses eight of his nine shot attempts, and Kemba Walker goes just 1 of 5 from the floor, you know it's a horrible night for any team. Add in the caveat that it was against the Pelicans and it's 10 times worse.
"When things aren't going our way Julius is going to take a lot of the blame," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But, it's a team game and we have to get out of it as a team. It wasn't one particular play or incident. Things just weren't going our way."
The Knicks have been one of those weird teams that have looked good in stretches, and followed that with weird confusing losses. I don’t think this trend will continue because the good has tended to far outweigh the bad, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t at the least bit intrigued.
The Clippers, to their credit, have been able to stay around .500 with George out of the lineup and are coming off a 102-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers despite a ridiculous 40-point night from Joel Embiid.
But L.A. got seven players in double figures, and the depth and balance remain the calling cards in what’s been an otherwise miraculous season. Reggie Jackson led the way with 19 points and the Clippers rallied from a 24-point deficit to win a wild game.
"Just keep scrapping like this team has been doing all year," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "That's our motto: Just scrap to the finish. We all just stayed with it. It was a team win."
The Clippers should absolutely be commended for staying competitive, but I think the Knicks’ defense will rise to the occasion at home and realize the last three are not Tom Thibodeau’s style of play. Give me New York in a bounce-back effort. Knicks by 12
Betting trends
The Clippers are 10-10 ATS on the road this season.
The Clippers are 2-8 ATS after winning two of three.
The Knicks are 11-14 ATS at home this season.
The Knicks are 6-2 ATS when playing on two days rest.
Projected starting lineup
Clippers:
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Amir Coffey
SF: Marcus Morris Sr.
PF: Nicolas Batum
C: Ivica Zubac
SF: Marcus Morris Sr.
PF: Nicolas Batum
C: Ivica Zubac
Knicks:
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Evan Fournier
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson
Key injuries
Clippers: Paul George (elbow, out), Kawhi Leonard (ACL, out)
Knicks: Cam Reddish (ankle, out), Nerlens Noel (knee, out), Derrick Rose (ankle, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
