The New York Knicks have lofty goals this year, but they’ve got a battle on their hands tonight at Madison Square Garden against the feisty Houston Rockets.
With five straight wins to wrap up January, New York took some positive steps forward, but my Rockets vs. Knicks predictions expect a deep, relentless Houston team to leave its mark here.
Read on for my NBA picks and betting tips for this Monday, February 3 clash.
Rockets vs Knicks prediction
My best bet
Rockets +5.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Last week’s intense road trip was an opportunity for the Houston Rockets to prove they’ve got what it takes to be more than a nice regular season story. They didn’t just keep that door open, they smashed right through it with eye-catching victories in Cleveland, Boston, and Memphis.
Now they arrive at MSG as underdogs — without Fred VanVleet but with a glut of wings to call on — and I’m taking the points with Ime Udoka’s men despite the New York Knicks’ late-January surge.
The numbers back up that pick, with the Rockets posting a 28-19-1 ATS mark this season and going 17-7 on the road. Houston has also won the last two meetings between these teams, including a 109-97 victory at Toyota Center in November.
The injury report has to factor into the equation too. In addition to VanVleet, the Rockets are sweating on Alperen Sengun's availability, but the Knicks have their own health concerns with OG Anunoby set to be sidelined and Josh Hart listed as questionable.
That seemingly tips the scales a little further in Houston’s favor. While Tom Thibodeau continues to lean heavily on the New York starters, the Rockets have the benefit of a reliable second unit, with Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore providing a spark off the bench.
I’m also counting on Udoka to use the reality check of a letdown performance at home to the lowly Brooklyn Nets on Saturday as a launchpad for a more locked-in outing here. It may not be pretty, but I see the Rockets doing enough to slow down Jalen Brunson and keep the score close tonight.
Rockets vs Knicks same-game parlay
Rockets +5.5
Amen Thompson Over 12.5 rebounds + assists
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds
With no VanVleet and a playmaking void to fill, look for Amen Thompson to continue his recent rise. I’m taking the Over on his rebounds + assists combo prop, on the heels of 10 boards and seven dimes against the Nets over the weekend.
Thompson has gone past this 12.5 O/U in four of his last games, and he grabbed nine rebounds against New York earlier this season. His minutes should hit the high-30s tonight, and I see him building on his January averages of 10.6 rpg and 4.3 apg.
I’m taking a Karl-Anthony Towns prop to round out my SGP, and the Over on this rebounds total would feel even more of a lock if Sengun is ruled out.
Foul trouble limited Towns to just six boards in the disappointing weekend loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he averaged 14.4 rpg last month while grabbing 13 or more boards in seven of his 12 contests. Better still, he finished with 19 rebounds in his last matchup against the Rockets.
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Rockets vs Knicks odds
Rockets vs Knicks live odds
Rockets vs Knicks opening odds
- Spread: Houston +5 | New York -5
- Moneyline: Houston +182 | New York -210
- Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Rockets vs Knicks spread and Over/Under analysis
- New York is favored here and the line has inched up after opening at -5, but the hosts are a modest 5-4 ATS in their last nine contests.
- Houston has won four of its past five road outings.
- With a Top 5 offense in points per game, the Knicks have hit the Over in 27 of their 49 outings this season, and they’ve reached the 140-point mark in two of their last four contests.
- The last three matchups between these teams hit the Under, but a line of 224 feels a little light.
Rockets vs Knicks trend
The Over is 42-27 in the Rockets’ past 69 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Knicks.
How to watch Rockets vs Knicks
| Location | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date | Monday, 2-3-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBA TV |
Rockets vs Knicks latest injuries
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