NBA Betting Picks, Odds, And Preview: New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets

The small ball has been working like a charm for the Houston Rockets who are now tied, record-wise, with the Utah Jazz for the fourth and fifth spots in the Western Conference, although they got the upper hand on the tiebreaker after winning the season series. Sitting on a three-game winning streak, James Harden and the rest of his crew will try to protect home court against the New York Knicks who will visit the Toyota Center Monday night. Unlike the Rockets, the Knicks are virtually out of playoff contention with a 17-39 record for 13^th place in the East.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have picked up where they left off as they carried over their crucial victory over the Celtics prior to the break all the way to two more wins against the Warriors and the Jazz, respectively. Their speed and outside shooting spelled the difference in Saturday’s 120-110 triumph in Utah as they were able to defy the Jazz’s potent interior defense anchored by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Houston is just a game behind the Clippers who are third the conference and have lost three straight. They boast a top-notch 19-8 record at home as they look to dismantle a lowly Knicks squad.

New York Knicks

The second half of the season is now underway but there seems to be no progress whatsoever on the Knicks side. As James Dolan stays on a hunt for a new chief of basketball operations, who he hopes can solve the infuriating puzzle that is his reeling franchise, the young guns of New York will have to cope with the strain until help arrives. For now, they have to continue playing ball and try to assert their best efforts to at least have a graceful exit. Facing the Rockets is definitely a daunting task to get through but we can expect the up and coming stars of the team to put their best foot forward and serve Houston a worthy competition on Monday’s clash.

Odds and Trends

The Rockets are tagged with an insurmountable edge on a spread at -14, good for -1200 in the two-may money line market. The total line is priced at over/under 229.5.

The Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400 and 6-1 in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

The Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 3-1-1 in Knicks' last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 6-0 in Rockets' last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Under is 5-0-1 in Knicks last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 3-0-1 in Knicks last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.

Prediction

Rockets win, 136-114