The New York Knicks (12-16) travel to Toyota Center Thursday to take on the Houston Rockets (9-19). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Knicks vs. Rockets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Knicks are riding a four-game losing skid. G Kemba Walker is no longer in the rotation, and what was one of the best covering teams in the NBA last year haven’t seen their success repeated.
New York is 11-17 against the spread (ATS) this season, although it does get a touch better as road favorites where it’s 3-2 ATS.
After starting the season 1-16 the Rockets have been on fire lately. Houston has won eight of its last 13 games. Houston is 8-6-1 ATS as a road underdog and 15-12-1 ATS on the season.
Knicks at Rockets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:35 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Knicks -205 (bet $205 to win $100) | Rockets +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
- Against the spread (ATS): Knicks -4.5 (-122) | Rockets +4.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 213.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Knicks at Rockets key injuries
Knicks
- F RJ Barrett (Health and Safety Protocol) out
Rockets (not officially submitted)
- G Jalen Green (hamstring) questionable
- F Christian Wood (knee) questionable
- G Kevin Porter (thigh) questionable
- G Eric Gordon (groin) probable
Knicks at Rockets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Knicks 109, Rockets 106
Money line
PASS on the money line.
This should be a close game, and I’m not prepared to bet on the -205 Knicks line as New York has been far better against teams under .500. Similarly, I would need more value to bet on the +165 for Houston as well.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the ROCKETS +4.5 (-102) as they’ve been red hot lately. The Rockets have covered eight of their last 10 games. Their offense has been far more efficient without Porter Jr. or Green.
The Knicks aren’t nearly at the level they were a year ago defensively. The Rockets and Knicks both rank in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating, coming in 25th and 23rd respectively.
However, I’d wait for their injury report to be released to confirm Gordon is playing, and I’d be good to place a fraction of a unit on Houston if he is.
Over/Under
BET on the OVER 213.5 (-115) as both defenses are not good enough to contain the other offense. The Knicks have quite a bit of offensive talent in G Derrick Rose, G Immanuel Quickley and F Julius Randle.
They should be able to score on a weak Houston interior even without Barrett. Also, the Knicks rank ninth in offensive rebounding rate while the Rockets are in the bottom 10 in defensive rebounding.
That could help produce points in this one. There’s also some reverse line movement with the total starting at 215 and churning down despite more money on the Under.
The sportsbooks feel comfortable in the Over and so do I.
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