Houston Rockets vs New York Knicks Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 12/02/2024, 06:00  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Houston Rockets will play host to the New York Knicks at the Toyota Center in the NBA on Monday night. The hosts are 23-29 and 12th in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 33-20 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. 

The New York Knicks, who recently cooled off from their impressive nine-game win streak, have now suffered defeats in three of their last four games overall. They will aim to bounce back following a decisive 125-111 loss to the Pacers on Saturday. Leading the team in scoring was Jalen Brunson, who recorded 39 points on 14 of 25 shooting, with Alec Burks contributing 22 points off the bench. Currently, the Knicks occupy the 15th spot in the NBA's scoring charts, averaging 115 points per game, while the Rockets boast the league's 10th-best defense, allowing just 112.8 points per game. However, the Knicks excel defensively, ranking 3rd in the league in scoring defense by limiting opponents to 109.9 points per contest. Unfortunately, they have some injury concerns with Robinson expected to be out for the remainder of the year due to an ankle injury, Anunoby sidelined until early March with an elbow injury, and Randle slated to be out until late February with a shoulder injury.

On the other hand, the Houston Rockets have been struggling lately, losing eight of their last 11 games overall. They are now looking to halt a four-game losing streak after suffering a 122-113 defeat to the Hawks on the road last Saturday. Jalen Green showcased a stellar performance with a triple-double of 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, supported by Jeff Green, who added 19 points. Houston ranks 21st in the NBA in offense, averaging 113.5 points per game, while New York boasts the third-ranked defense, conceding only 109.9 points on average. Houston has also shown strength defensively, ranking 10th in scoring defense by allowing an average of 112.8 points per game this season. Steven Adams is out for the season due to a knee injury, while VanVleet and Eason are expected to be sidelined until late February.