Tip-off: Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles -1.0, Total: 218.5

The Knicks will be looking to get back on track with a home victory over the Clippers on Wednesday.

Los Angeles is struggling without PG Chris Paul (Thumb), and this team is just counting the days until the superstar returns to the lineup. The Clippers just cannot buy a victory right now, as they have lost three straight games and seven of their past 10 as well. Fortunately for Los Angeles, the team does get to face the lowly Knicks on Wednesday. New York has lost 14 of its past 20 games coming into this one, and the team does not have an injury like Paul’s to use as an excuse. The Knicks have lost their way on both ends of the floor, and changes are likely to be made soon. One of those changes could actually be sending SF Carmelo Anthony (22.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG) to the Clippers. Los Angeles is rumored to be interested in the superstar, so it’s worth observing how he plays in front of a team that could save him from the mess in New York. These two teams have not met this season, but the Clippers have dominated this head-to-head series as of late. Los Angeles has won four straight games against New York over the past three seasons, and the Clippers also happen to be 3-1 ATS in those games. Two of those victories (both SU and ATS) have come at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are actually 14-27 ATS as home underdogs over the past three seasons. As previously mentioned, Paul is out for the Clippers in this game. New York, meanwhile, will be playing without C Joakim Noah (Hamstring) and PF Lance Thomas (Facial) indefinitely.

The Clippers are trying to snap a three-game losing streak, and they have a good opportunity to do just that on Wednesday. The Knicks are coming off of an embarrassing 121-107 loss to the Lakers, and are always a threat to show up to games without any energy. While Los Angeles might not have as much talent as usual with Paul out, the Clippers consistently play hard. PF Blake Griffin (21.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.1 SPG) is a guy that could absolutely dominate this game on Wednesday. Griffin had a triple-double in Monday’s loss to the Raptors, and he is now averaging 25.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.8 APG and 1.4 SPG over the past five contests. Those might seem eerily similar to his season numbers, but it’s the way he is doing it that is impressive. As opposed to the 49.1% Griffin is shooting from the field on the year, the big man is shooting 57.6% from the floor over the past five games. It’s hard to imagine him not keeping that up on Wednesday, as he has the strength to bully the Knicks forwards in the paint. Another guy that could have his way with New York is SG J.J. Redick (15.4 PPG). The Knicks often fall asleep on defense, so Redick should be able to get himself open pretty frequently. When he is left free, he tends to bury his looks. Redick is shooting 42.5% from the outside on the season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make at least four threes in this one.

The Knicks could really use a victory on Wednesday, and PF Kristaps Porzingis (18.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.0 BPG) will need to play a lot better for New York moving forward. Porzingis has been far too careless on the defensive end recently, averaging 4.5 fouls per game over the past five contests. That foul trouble has kept him off the court for important stretches, and he must smarten up soon. This is becoming a bad habit for Porzingis, and the Knicks need their most talented player to be wiser. SF Carmelo Anthony (22.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG), meanwhile, has played rather well offensively recently. Over the past five games, Anthony is averaging 5.8 PPG on 44.6% shooting from the floor. That type of scoring is exactly what appeals to other teams, and it seems clear that the Knicks want to trade him. Anthony does, however, have a no-trade clause, and he appears to want to be in New York for the remainder of his career. If that truly is the case then he’ll need to help the Knicks get back into the win column on Wednesday, as New York is falling far behind in the playoff race. Another guy to keep an eye on is C Willy Hernangomez (6.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG), who just might be the Knicks’ center of the future. Over the past five games, the rookie is averaging 11.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG and 2.4 APG in 24.0 MPG. He’ll need to hold his own against the Clippers’ elite frontcourt in this one, but he should be able to do that.