The New York Knicks and Houston Rockets have been two of the best under the total bets in the NBA this season. Should Sports Interaction bettors thus expect a lower-scoring game Monday?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Betting an NBA total can be a bit misleading. Yes, Houston has seen a majority of its games finish under the total this season, but that’s because oddsmakers set the Rockets’ totals extremely high as Houston ranks among the NBA’s highest-scoring teams. That the majority of Knicks games are going under is simply because New York is not a good offensive team.

Of course, one story line between these franchises is current Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni. Knicks brass has made numerous bad decisions over the past 20 years or so, and one was probably firing D’Antoni during the 2011-12 season because Carmelo Anthony didn’t like him. D’Antoni had led New York to the playoffs the year before. The Knicks made it back the season he was fired and then again in 2012-13 but haven’t been back since. New York isn’t close to being a playoff team anytime soon, either.

It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams, with the Rockets on a seven-game winning streak in the series and going to Madison Square Garden next Monday. In the just-completed decade, Houston was 18-1 against the Knicks and 9-1 at home. New York’s lone win came in the 2015-16 season. Last year, James Harden averaged a cool 43.5 points in the two wins over the Knicks along with 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

Houston is 17-7 ATS in the past 24 meetings. The under is 6-2-1 ATS in the previous nine.

New York Knicks

The Knicks dropped their third in a row Friday, 106-98 at home to Indiana. Canadian rookie RJ Barrett had 17 points. He’s second on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game but is really struggling from 3-point range in hitting just 30.8 percent. Starting point guard Elfrid Payton sat with a sore right ankle and is questionable here. Backup Frank Nitlikina is questionable with a sore groin. Centre Mitchell Robinson, one of the few pieces on the Knicks who are part of the long-term future (like Barrett), sprained his ankle but is probable here. New York is 3-0-1 ATS in its past four road games.

Houston Rockets

Houston still has a shot to finish as high as second in the West and currently sits fourth. The Rockets won their third in a row Saturday, 120-110 in Utah. NBA scoring leader Harden had 38 points along with seven assists and five boards. Westbrook also filled the stat sheet with 34 points, six rebounds and four assists. Eric Gordon played after sitting out the game previous with a shin injury and had 12 points off the bench. The Rockets are trying a very unique small ball gameplan after trading centre Clint Capela a couple of weeks ago. Their tallest starter vs. the Jazz was 6-foot-8. The team is 32-6 when leading after three quarters of play. Houston is 5-1 ATS in its past six after a win.

Who Will Win Knicks vs. Rockets?

Injuries

New York

Mitchell Robinson (C)

Ques Tues Illness - 10 / 03 / 20

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 07 / 03 / 20

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 06 / 03 / 20

Kevin Knox II (SF)

Prob Fri Leg - 05 / 03 / 20

Kevin Knox II (SF)

Prob Wed Leg - 03 / 03 / 20

Mitchell Robinson (C)

Prob Fri Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 20

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Wed Illness - 29 / 02 / 20

Taj Gibson (PF)

Prob Sat Back - 27 / 02 / 20

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Tues Concussion - 27 / 02 / 20

Kenny Wooten (SF)

out for season Thumb - 24 / 02 / 20

Houston

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Sat Neck - 12 / 09 / 20

Robert Covington (SF)

PRob Thurs Head - 09 / 09 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

out for season Personal - 08 / 09 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Ques Sun Head - 05 / 09 / 20

Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 19 / 08 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Toe - 10 / 08 / 20

Bruno Caboclo (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 28 / 07 / 20

DeMarre Carroll (SF)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 27 / 07 / 20

Austin Rivers (PG)

day to day Personal - 24 / 07 / 20

Injuries

New York

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Mitchell Robinson (C)	Ques Tues	Illness - 10 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Robinson is battling an illness, and it has yet to be determined if he will play Tuesday against the Wizards.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 07 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Ntilikina is expected to suit up for Sunday's matchup against the Pistons despite a sprained right ankle.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 06 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Ntilikina left Friday's game with a sprained right ankle, and his return is in question.
Kevin Knox II (SF)	Prob Fri	Leg - 05 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Knox II is expected to be in Friday's lineup versus the Thunder despite a left leg contusion.
Kevin Knox II (SF)	Prob Wed	Leg - 03 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Knoxx II is tending to a left leg contusion, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Wednesday's battle with the Jazz.
Mitchell Robinson (C)	Prob Fri	Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Robinson was absent from the lineup during the previous game with a sore left hamstring, but he will play against the Thunder on Friday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 29 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Bullock has sat out the previous two games with an illness, but it is projected that he will be available against the Jazz on Wednesday.
Taj Gibson (PF)	Prob Sat	Back - 27 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Gibson was absent from the lineup during the previous game with back spasms, but he is expected to be a participant in Saturday's contest versus the Bulls.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Tues	Concussion - 27 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Smith Jr. is sidelined due to a concussion, but it is likely that he will return Tuesday against the Wizards.
Kenny Wooten (SF)	out for season	Thumb - 24 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Wooten is projected to miss the remainder of the season due to surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Sat	Neck - 12 / 09 / 20	0-1	0-1	+ -
Chandler is dealing with neck spasms and will sit out Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Lakers.
Robert Covington (SF)	PRob Thurs	Head - 09 / 09 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Covington is battling headache, but it is projected that he will line up in Game 4 of the Western Conference second round versus the Lakers.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	out for season	Personal - 08 / 09 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
House Jr. will not be permitted to participate in the remainder of the postseason due to a violation of bubble protocol.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Ques Sun	Head - 05 / 09 / 20	1-4	1-4	+ -
House Jr. is tending to a head injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round versus the Lakers.
Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 19 / 08 / 20	4-7	4-7	+ -
Mbah a Moute has a left knee effusion, and there is no timetable for return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Toe - 10 / 08 / 20	5-10	5-10	+ -
House Jr. is bothered by a left toe sprain, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Thunder.
Bruno Caboclo (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Caboclo has sat out the past three games due to a sprained right ankle, and he will not return Sunday against the Kings.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 28 / 07 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Gordon has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain, but is expected to make his return Wednesday against the Pacers.
DeMarre Carroll (SF)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 27 / 07 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Carroll missed the last game with a hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will play against the Bucks on Sunday.
Austin Rivers (PG)	day to day	Personal - 24 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rivers was away from the team due to a personal matter. He has returned and is likely to line up in Friday's matchup versus the Mavericks.