The Jazz come to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks tonight, but New York will be without a few key contributors in this one.
The most notable is PG Dennis Smith Jr., who head coach David Fizdale said threw out his back. The team is expecting to re-evaluate him next week as he will likely miss at least three more games. The Knicks could deem Smith done for the season if the evaluation says so.
And that isn't the only guard the Knicks will be without. Allonzo Trier has a calf injury that will keep him out, while Frank Ntilikina isn't quite ready to return from his groin injury. Ntilikina practice with G-League Westchester on Tuesday, but he is expected to practice once again and be ready to make his awaited return this weekend.
Kadeem Allen was also added to the list with an illness. So it will be up to Emmanuel Mudiay and Damyean Dotson to take a brunt of the workload in the backcourt.
Finally, Noah Vonleh is the lone frontcourt member that will be out due to an ankle injury. He has been absent the past two games for New York.
It will be a tough one for the Knicks, as the Jazz sport at four-game win streak coming into this one. Both teams tip-off at 7:30 p.m.