The New York Knicks host the Phoenix Suns at Madison Square Garden on Sunday with a two-game lead for the Eastern Conference's third seed hanging in the balance, while the Kevin Durant-less Suns find themselves in free fall after dropping five straight games and sinking out of playoff contention in the West.
Karl-Anthony Towns, fresh off a 25-point, 13-rebound performance, looks primed to expose Phoenix's vulnerable interior defense that's surrendered an average of 116.6 points per game this season (22nd in the league).
With the Knicks tuning up for a playoff run and the Suns seemingly content with lottery positioning, all signs point to a critical late-season showdown between a focused New York Knicks home team and a deflated Phoenix Suns away team.
New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns prediction: who will win?
For tonight's New York Knicks vs Phoenix Suns matchup, our predictive model gives the Knicks a 77.5% chance of defeating the Suns.
Pre-game probabilities
New York Knicks
Moneyline
Win %
77.5%
22.5%
Phoenix Suns
New York Knicks: 77.5% win probability
- Strong home court advantage with a 49-28 record (63.6% win rate)
- Excellent recent form (WLWWW) showing momentum heading into this matchup
- Superior defensive efficiency (allowing 8613 points in 77 games, compared to Phoenix's 8986 in 77 games)
Phoenix Suns: 22.5% win probability
- Poor recent form (LLLLL) indicating a significant slump
- Struggling on the road with only 35 wins to 42 losses this season
- Defensive vulnerabilities (allowing 8986 points in 77 games, ranking them in the bottom half of Western Conference teams)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts..
| New York Knicks | Phoenix Suns | |
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New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns preview
The struggling Phoenix Suns drag their five-game losing streak to Madison Square Garden tonight, where they'll face a Knicks squad firmly positioned as the Eastern Conference's third seed with playoffs looming.
Devin Booker's been on a tear despite his team's woes, dropping 37 against Boston and 39 versus Milwaukee in recent losses, but Phoenix continues to crumble defensively – allowing opponents to shoot a blistering 47.1% from the field this season.
Kevin Durant's ankle injury has crippled the Suns' playoff hopes as they've fallen two games back from the final play-in spot, with team management possibly eyeing lottery balls rather than rushing their superstar back.
The Knicks, having gone 6-4 in their last ten outings, are looking to fine-tune their approach before hosting a first-round playoff series, with Karl-Anthony Towns emerging as their inside force – he posted 25 points and 13 rebounds in their recent loss to Cleveland.
New York's offensive firepower (ranked 9th in scoring) should feast against Phoenix's porous defense (23rd in points allowed), creating mismatches throughout the lineup.
The game presents a stark contrast in motivation: a Knicks team sharpening their tools for a playoff run versus a Suns squad that appears to have mentally checked out for the season.
Madison Square Garden fans should witness a compelling battle between two of the league's premier scorers in Booker and Towns, even if the teams are heading in opposite directions.
Don't be shocked if this turns into a high-scoring affair – Phoenix has gone over the total in four of their last five games, and their defensive surrender feels like a trend that'll continue against the playoff-hungry Knicks.
New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns form
New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns head to head
New York Knicks
60%
Phoenix Suns
40%
Apr 6, 2025
New York Knicks
0 : 0
Phoenix Suns
Nov 21, 2024
Phoenix Suns
122 : 138
New York Knicks
Dec 16, 2023
Phoenix Suns
122 : 139
New York Knicks
Nov 26, 2023
New York Knicks
113 : 116
Phoenix Suns
Jan 2, 2023
New York Knicks
102 : 83
Phoenix Suns
Nov 20, 2022
Phoenix Suns
116 : 95
New York Knicks
