Houston Rockets vs. New York Knicks: Odds, Picks & Predictions

PICK OF THE DAY: (2u) Rockets -9.5 @ -105

Houston Rockets @ New York Knicks, 7:00 PM:

•  Since the 2012-13 NBA season, the New York Knicks have a 1-6 against the spread record against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden. (Stats courtesy of Statschecker)__.

The reason we’re backing the Rockets

The Houston Rockets head into Madison Square Garden on a six-game winning streak.

In their last matchup at the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, Russell Westbrook finished with 41 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals and James Harden added 21 points, eight assists, four boards and three steals in a 111-110 overtime win.

The Rockets have a two-game lead over the Utah Jazz for the fourth seed in the loaded Western Conference and are only two behind the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers for the second seed.

It isn’t a matter of if the Rockets win this game - they definitely will. The question is how many points will they win by?

I believe Houston covers the 9.5 spread in this matchup.

(1u) Jazz -8.5 @ -110

Utah Jazz @ Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00 PM:

•  The Utah Jazz have a 6-0-2 against the spread record against the Cleveland Cavaliers since the 2015-16 NBA season.

The reason we’re backing the Jazz

The Utah Jazz will look to win back-to-back games in this matchup on Monday night.

Donovan Mitchell finished with a team-high 30 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to go with eight rebounds and three assists and Michael Conley added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 129-119 victory over the Washington Wizards.

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak. If Utah is going to come away with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, the Jazz will need to rely on Mitchell to carry the load.

He is averaging career-best totals in points (24.8), rebounds (4.4), field-goal percentage (45.8), three-point percentage (36.7) and free-throw percentage (85.4) so far this season.

Look for the Jazz to come away with the road win here. Take Utah minus the 8.5 points.

(1u) Trail Blazers +7 @ -110

Portland Trail Blazers @ Orlando Magic, 7:00 PM:

•  Since the 2011-12 NBA season, the Portland Trail Blazers have a 71-54-3 against the spread record in games played during March.

The reason we’re backing the Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers will look to put an end to a three-game losing streak on Monday night against the Orlando Magic.

CJ McCollum had 35 points, five assists and five rebounds and Hassan Whiteside contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds with three blocks in a 129-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

Look for the Blazers to bounce back on the road in this matchup.

Portland plus the 7 points is the pick here.