Tuesday’s seven-game NBA schedule is headlined by a doubleheader on NBC that begins with the New York Knicks visiting the Houston Rockets. It’s a must-see game between two teams headed straight for the playoffs in their respective conferences.
Let’s get into my Knicks vs. Rockets.
Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves odds
Money line: Knicks -112 / Rockets -108
Spread: Knicks -1 (-106) / Rockets +1 (-114)
Total: Over 217.5 (-110) / Under 217.5 (-110)
New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets best bet #1: Rockets ML (-108)
Houston went 108-106 on February 21st in the first meeting between these two teams this season. However, if you’re a Rockets fan, there’s no need to be disheartened by that result. If anything, of course encouraging. First, it was New York. Second, Houston really should have won; the visitors built a 16-point lead going into the fourth quarter before collapsing. The Rockets lost by only two points despite turning the ball over an absurd 19 times. That can’t happen again for a team that made just eight TOs during last weekend’s 134-102 blowout of New Orleans. Head coach Ime Udoka’s team is playing solid overall basketball right now. It has won two straight and four of its last six, with one loss during that stretch coming in OT (110-108 at Minnesota). Alperen Sengun has scored 30 or more points in three of the last four contests.
Home court advantage should have a big impact on the Rockets’ bid to avenge their February setback. Despite back-to-back losses to the Lakers in mid-March, they haven’t lost at home in regulation since February 11. Houston is 25-10 inside the Toyota Center compared to 20-19 on the road. The Knicks have an even more extreme home road differential: 27-9 at Madison Square Garden; 20-18 on the road. New York is 2-6 against the spread in its last eight contests and 0-4 ATS in the last four H2H vs. Houston.
Houston Rockets vs. New York Knicks betting best player: Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-pointers (+118)
Durant made three three-pointers against New York last month, making four. The veteran should be in line for another strong performance from the land of plenty against a team that defends its perimeter unfavorably. The Knicks are 19th in the league in three-point field goal percentage (36.9). That jumps to 39.8% over the past three games. Durant, meanwhile, has exceeded the quota in four of his past six outings – including two and five double attempts.
