PREVIEW: The Utah Jazz arrive at Madison Square Garden as a team built on solid passing and floor spacing, yet they carry significant defensive liabilities, ranking 26th in defending three-point shooting and 26th in protecting the rim. The New York Knicks, conversely, have won 12 of their last 16 games and bring elite defensive credentials to this matchup. New York ranks first in defensive rebounding and fourth in limiting rim attacks, forming a suffocating defensive identity that should trouble Utah's offensive schemes. The Knicks outscore the Jazz by over two points per game while holding opponents to nearly two percentage points better shooting overall. Lauri Markkanen continues his stellar season with 28 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest, while Keyonte George provides 22.8 points and floor leadership for the visitors. The Knicks counter with Jalen Brunson's 28.6 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' all-around excellence at 22.4 points and 3.4 assists. Despite possessing efficient three-point shooting ranked fourth in the league, the Knicks play at a deliberate pace with low spacing on offense, a stark contrast to Utah's more dynamic but turnover-prone approach. The Jazz face a challenging back-to-back situation after facing Brooklyn on Thursday before making the short trip to Manhattan, testing their depth against a well-rested Knicks squad.