Expect an intense defensive game from the Knicks and Nuggets today. That's the way recent history has gone. The averaged combined score in the past four meetings between these teams is 216 points. The most points scored during any of the last four games in the series was 226.

The Knicks are the No. 1 defensive rebounding team in the NBA. Tom Thibodeau is a highly-respected defensive coach. He can't be happy that New York has given up 121 points to the Jazz and 122 points to the Suns during the first two games of its road trip. The Knicks held the Wizards to 106 points and Nets to 104 in their two previous games before hitting the road.

New York hasn't had three bad defensive games in a row all season.

The Nuggets just held the Lakers to 102 points this past Saturday, which is 14 points below LA's season average. The Nuggets rank sixth in 3-point defense.