The Houston Rockets visit Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Monday evening. The Rockets face a top-tier Eastern Conference team for the second straight day after taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. New York is 42-33 overall, including a 20-17 mark at home. Jalen Brunson (hand) is listed as questionable for the Knicks, with the Rockets facing an uncertain injury report on the second night of a back-to-back set.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET in New York. Caesars Sportsbook lists New York as the 12.5-point home favorite, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 230 in the latest Rockets vs. Knicks odds. Before making any Knicks vs. Rockets picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine .
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 24 of the 2022-23 NBA season a stunning 70-36 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,900. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Rockets and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks . Here are the NBA lines and trends for Rockets vs. Knicks:
- Knicks vs. Rockets spread: Knicks -12.5
- Knicks vs. Rockets over/under: 230 points
- Knicks vs. Rockets money line: Knicks -900, Rockets +600
- HOU: The Rockets are 3-9 against the spread with no rest
- NYK: The Knicks are 16-18-3 against the spread in home games
- Knicks vs. Rockets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Rockets can cover
Houston uses its athleticism and force effectively on the offensive end of the floor. The Rockets lead the NBA in offensive rebound rate, securing 34% of missed shots this season. That also leads to a league-leading mark in second-chance points per game, and Houston puts pressure on the rim. That includes top-eight marks in points in the paint and free throw attempts per game. New York struggles to create defensive havoc, forcing only 12.6 turnovers per game, and no team has fewer steals (6.2 per game) this season.
On the other end, Houston is in the top 10 of the NBA in defensive rebound rate and second-chance points allowed this season. The Rockets are also above-average in creating blocks and steals, and New York’s offense does have its warts. The Knicks are below-average in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage this season, and New York generates the second-fewest assists (22.5 per game) in the NBA.
Why the Knicks can cover
New York has the significant offensive advantage in this contest. Houston struggles badly with offensive efficiency, and the Knicks are led by potent shot creators. Even with Brunson facing uncertainty from an injury standpoint, the Knicks can lean on Julius Randle and RJ Barrett . Randle is a 2023 NBA All-Star who is averaging 25.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season. Barrett adds 19.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest, and he is generating 21.4 points per game over the last 10 contests. As a team, New York is in the top five of the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 116.3 points per 100 possessions.
The Knicks dominate the offensive glass, grabbing 31.8% of missed shots and averaging 16.4 second-chance points per game. In addition, New York boosts its productivity with 25.7 free throw attempts per game, and the Knicks commit only 13.0 turnovers per contest. With Houston ranking in the bottom three of the league in defensive rating and 3-point accuracy allowed, New York also has an appetizing matchup in which to score.
How to make Rockets vs. Knicks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 231 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine .
So who wins Knicks vs. Rockets? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks , and find out.