NBA: Knicks Vs Lakers Preview – Stats, Insights & What You Need To Know

The New York Knicks could count themselves lucky on Friday night when they are unlikely to have to defend LeBron James when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers in a game pairing teams that have struggled of late.

James suffered a strained left groin in the Lakers’ win at Golden State on Christmas Day and has missed the last four games, including Wednesday’s 107-100 home loss to Oklahoma City.

“All four games we’ve had since LeBron’s been out we’ve had leads,” guard Josh Hart told reporters. “We’ve been playing well. Really they’ve all been one- or two-possession games we could’ve – and a couple we should’ve – won.” New York is plunging downward with eight straight setbacks and 13 in its last 14 games after dropping a 115-108 road decision against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. “I’m very sad seeing my teammates out there losing,” recently demoted backup center Enes Kanter told reporters after contributing 17 points and 12 rebounds. “I hate losing, man. I’m not going to accept losing. Every time I’m out there I’m trying my best to get a win.” – Josh Hart

James’ availability is being determined on a day-to-day basis, but he almost surely will not return for the New York game on Friday. The Lakers’ injury situation went from bad to worse when Kyle Kuzmaunderwent an MRI on his ailing back Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s game. The Lakers listed him as questionable to face the Knicks (9-29) because of a lower back contusion. The Lakers (21-17) definitely will go without Rajon Rondo, who could miss the entire month of January with a thumb injury.

“It makes it tough,” Lakers forward Brandon Ingram told reporters of the injury situation after the loss to the Thunder. “We have a lot of guys out and we just try to figure out different ways to attack the paint. On the defensive end, just try to make small adjustments so that we can be effective in each part of the game.” – Brandon Ingram

New York has played the entire season without star big man Kristaps Porzingis, and having lost eight in a row, are one of only a handful of NBA teams already truly out of playoff contention. Coincidentally, getting production out of their big men has been the least of the Knicks’ problems of late. Luke Kornet, who had started one game previously in his NBA career, has gotten the call in the last three and put up big numbers, averaging 18.7 points while shooting 51 percent from the field overall and 63 percent on 3-pointers. Kornet has been so good, Knicks coach David Fizdale has elected to bring arguably his best player, Enes Kanter, off the bench.

“The only thing I learned from my career, you have to stay together,” Kanter expressed to reporters recently. “You cannot fall apart. You need that one, two, three guys to bring the positive energy in the locker room. If you’re losing, everybody is shaking their head, everybody is depressed. You need that guy to bring that positive energy, keep that energy up, make people laugh.” – Kanter

Some insights for the game:

• The Knicks have lost each of their last eight games.
• The Knicks have failed to cover the line in six of their last seven games.
• Nine of the Knicks’ last 10 games as underdogs following a road loss have gone OVER the total match points line.
• The underdogs have won the first half in five of the Lakers’ last six games.
• The Knicks have lost the fourth quarter in each of their last seven night games.
• Luke Kornet has scored 14+ points in each of the Knicks’ last three games.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has scored 14+ points in each of the Lakers’ last three games.
• Luke Kornet has scored the first basket in two of the Knicks’ last three games.

Our Tip

Lakers -7.5

	Neds	Bet365	BetEasy
Knicks	3.50	12/5	3.40
Lakers	1.33	1/3	1.34

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