One of the most exciting matchups for today's NBA schedule is the one between Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, scheduled for Tuesday, 01:45AM BST, so in this article are a few of my favourite Houston Rockets vs New York Knicks predictions.
On top of that, I'll offer a full Rockets vs Knicks preview, including latest team form, injuries and other team news, along with Rockets vs Knicks odds. So, let's take a closer look at this game and what we can expect from it.
Houston Rockets vs New York Knicks predictions
Moneyline
Knicks to win
8/11
Total points
Under 217.5
9/10
To record a double-double
Aperen Sengun
11/10
All odds for my Rockets vs Knicks picks were taken from Paddy Power and are subject to change at any time.
New York Knicks to win
Both the Knicks and the Rockets have started the season in similar fashion and both teams have three wins, while the Rockets have also lost three and the Knicks have lost two. So, this will be a close contest and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes down to the wire.
That being said, the Knicks are a better team on paper, but they also have a lot more experience than the young Rockets' core. That is the reason why I can see the Knicks getting the win in Houston.
Under 217.5 total points
This is a duel between to teams who are very similar in their offensive and defensive output so far, with the Knicks averaging 116.2 points per game and the Rockets averaging 112.3 points per game. Meanwhile, New York allows 109.00 points per game to their opponents, Houston allows 109.5.
So, it's clear that we shouldn't expect a high-scoring game and the line for total points reflects that. However, I still expect the game to go under, despite this lower line. After all, three of the previous four duels between the Rockets and the Knicks have gone under 217.5 total points.
Alperen Sengun to record a double-double
The Turkish center has been in good form to start the season, averaging 15 points, 12 rebounds, and almost 4 assists per game. While the expectations from Sengun are higher than, at least when it comes to his point and assist numbers, he has been pretty reliable in helping Houston to a 3-3 start of the season.
More importantly, Sengun has recorded a double-double in all but one game this season, including the team's last game against the Warriors in which he only played 21 minutes. With Mitchell and Achiuwa still out for the Knicks, Sengun should have plenty of opportunities to grab boards this evening, so I like the odds on him recoding a double-double tonight.
Rockets vs Knicks preview – teams news, injuries, and predicted lineups
As one of the younger teams in the league, the Rockets aren't expected to make the playoffs, but they are expected to fight for it and be in the race for at least the play-in. To their credit, so far they've shown that they'll be a tough nut to crack for anyone as they've recorded three wins and three losses since the start of the season.
Meanwhile, the only player on Houston's injury list at the moment is Steven Adams, who is listed as a game-time decision for tonight.
The Rockets enter this match with a 3-3 record.
Rockets starting lineup: VanVleet, Green, Brooks, Smith Jr, Sengun
After the loss to the Celtics in Boston on the opening night of the new NBA season, the Knicks have won three and lost once, against the still undefeated Cavaliers. In any case, the Knicks have shown why they're seen as one of the main favourites in the Eastern Conference this season as they have been competitive in all but that first game of the season.
New York are still without Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa, so their frontcourt remains thin, particularly right under the basket. Kevin McCullar Jr and Cameron Payne are also on the team's injury list, but are listed as game-time decisions.
The Knicks enter this match with a 3-2 record.
Knicks starting lineup: Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, Towns
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