Knicks vs. Spurs: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The New York Knicks and Jeremy Lin face yet another top-notch point guard and team when they visit the San Antonio Spurs tonight. Things have gone south for Lin and the Knicks since they were all the rage just two weeks ago.

Now they have lost three of four and Lin has consistently been outplayed, and he is beginning to look overmatched. Lin is not playing well on defense, and the mix of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire into the offense has rendered him ineffective in recent games.

The Knicks aren't the only ones struggling. The Spurs have lost three of five since their 11-game win streak last month. Moreover, they have lost two of the last three at home.

Something will have to give in this one. Let's take a closer look. 

Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas

When: Wednesday, Mar. 7th, at 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBA League Pass, MSG, FOX SW

Listen: WOAI 1200—San Antonio, WHLI 1100 AM—New York

Betting Line: San Antonio -7

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Key Injuries

New York: No injuries to report 

San Antonio: No injuries to report

What's at Stake?

The Knicks need a win against a quality opponent for the sake of their confidence and their record. The Knicks have fallen to two games under .500 at 18-20. They have a three-game lead over Milwaukee for the eighth playoff spot, and they need to right the ship.

The Spurs have been struggling as well. They need to have the group that had been playing so well without Manu Ginobili come together with him. The Spurs can be a threat down the stretch, but they need to pull things together. 

What They're Saying

ESPN.com quoted Tony Parker speaking about his upcoming matchup with Jeremy Lin:

"

Tomorrow's game is important and my matchup against Lin is going to be a good one. ... He's been playing well for them. Like I said before, it's a great story and hopefully he can maintain that level.

"

Parker is ready, just as all of Lin's opponents have been since Linsanity began. The greatest barometer and challenge the basketball world ever placed on Lin was the extended media coverage.

Basketball players are proud athletes—the more someone gets love poured on them, the more players are going to be up for them and make it a point to test their mettle.

That is what Lin is going through right now.

Ryan Christopher DeVault of Yahoo! Sports wrote this in his synopsis of the Knicks' loss to Mavericks:

"

The 95-85 loss showed that there are still a lot of problems with the current Knicks roster, despite the influx in talent over the past few weeks. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni used 11 players against the Mavericks, trying to find the right combination that could get the offense flowing. It didn't help that Carmelo Anthony went just 2-for-12 from the field and that the team was just 6-for-23 from three-point range.

"

The Knicks will need to find some continuity if they are to be successful in San Antonio. It of course all begins with Lin's ability to make plays off the dribble. He has to knock down shots. In his last four games, Lin is 17-of-52 from the field, and that won't get it done. 

San Antonio Player To Watch: Manu Ginobili

Manu is perhaps the team's best overall player, but the Spurs were able to find an identity without him. Now the challenge is for him to step in and be effective without throwing off the rhythm players like Daniel Green and Kawhi Leonard were able to establish in his stead.

In the loss to Denver, he had eight points, four rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes. Expect Manu's numbers to go up if he gets a few more minutes tonight.

New York Player To Watch: Carmelo Anthony

Since Melo returned from injury, the Knicks are 2-4. I don't think he has brought the team down, but I do believe that the intense defense and the responsibility to get Anthony the ball has slowed Lin.

Their games do not complement each other at all at this point. Anthony's PER rating is 21.8 with Lin on the bench and 12.2 with Lin on the floor.

There needs to be an adjustment made, and considering Melo has the time and success in the league, the adjustment should come from Lin.

Key Matchup

This is easy: It's Parker vs Lin, although the Knicks will likely attempt to hide Lin from Parker by placing Iman Shumpert on Parker.

Lin doesn't have the foot speed to contain Parker, but he should be able to use his size and strength advantage over Parker on the offensive end. I expect both players to have solid games, but whomever holds the edge will likely lead his team to victory.

Prediction

Spurs 100, Knicks 98

This one will be close, but I expect Parker to have a solid game, as the Knicks don't really have an answer for his quickness.

I am also predicting this will be a breakout performance for Ginobili. He will have had two days' rest since the last game, and he and the Spurs should be fresher after the Knicks played and lost last night in Dallas.