The Knicks‘ four-game road trip continues Tuesday night in Houston, where they are set to face Kevin Durant and the Rockets at the Toyota Center.
New York’s season has hit another disappointing stretch with consecutive losses to the Hornets and Thunder. But the Blue and Orange remain the sole third seed with the playoffs on the horizon.
The Rockets have won two straight games, as they look to avenge their narrow 108-106 loss to the Knicks back in February.
Durant and Houston are slight 1.5-point favorites at home, with the Over/Under set at 218.5 total points on BetMGM Sportsbook.
Knicks vs. Rockets prediction, best bet
The weaknesses of both teams are apparent coming into the game.
Houston’s inability to close out games is evident in its recurring lapses in crucial final moments, often due to the lack of a true point guard on the floor. An example of this was in the first meeting of the season, when they blew a 93-75 fourth-quarter lead to New York.
It’s also why the Timberwolves were able to erase a 13-point deficit against them and reel off 15 straight points in overtime last Wednesday.
While Durant is a reliable scorer and Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson show great potential, the absence of Fred VanVleet leaves Ime Udoka struggling to establish a consistent clutch-time offense.
For the Knicks, the primary issue is a lack of intensity when playing outside of Penn Plaza and Seventh Avenue. Their 14-24 record against the spread as the road team highlights this problem, and their struggles away from home remain baffling.
Brunson often finds himself playing hero ball, attempting to will the team to wins. On the other hand, Karl-Anthony Towns’ inconsistency frequently makes him a defensive burden, which in turn forces players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to step up as primary playmakers.
Betting on the NBA?
One player who is comfortable with that challenge is Josh Hart.
That is why I’m targeting Hart’s prop of rebounds and assists in this one, as the Villanova product is averaging 8.3 rebounds and four assists per game in March.
If Udoka decides to blitz Brunson with double teams, expect him to have the basketball in his hands early and often.
The Play: Josh Hart Over 11.5 Rebounds + Assists (+102, bet365 Sportsbook)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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