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It was a slow start for the New York Knicks, losing their first three games with many concerned about the direction of the club. But an emphatic road win over the Cavaliers has some believing this season could be different than the past few, which have resulted in no playoff appearances. The Knickerbockers aren’t there quite yet, but another win over a league powerhouse will have the league thinking twice when the Knicks are up on the schedule. The Houston Rockets open a brief two-game trip in the Mecca of basketball for a nationally televised game at MSG.
Don’t miss the hardwood action from Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN. We’ll have NBA opening odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Wednesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
Well, we didn’t see that one coming. The Knicks won for the first time on the road and for the second time this season by handing the Cavs a 19-point loss on Sunday as a 10.5-point dog. It was their second ATS win in a row and gives them a cozy feeling heading into a five-game homestand and a stretch where they play eight of nine at home. The Knicks haven’t had a glorious home court advantage, but we didn’t expect them to slaughter the Cavs either.
Houston has been the favorite in each of the past eight games with the Knickerbockers going 7-1 SU and 4-4 ATS in that span. The Rockets will be giving points when the line hits the board, but that number could be significantly lower after the Knicks put a few wins together, including an impressive performance in Cleveland on Sunday.
Key Stat
The Rockets have continued to launch the three-pointer, making it a permanent part of their DNA. However, unlike in past years, they’ve struggled to put the long ball in the hoop. Houston ranks first in three-pointers attempted by a wide margin, and that’s allowed them to make the second-most triples in the league with an average of 13.6 per game. But entering the week, the Rockets have made just 31 percent of their shots from distance, which places them near the bottom of the league rankings.
The roster hasn’t been complete since the start of the season. Chris Paul remains sidelined and the Rockets got Trevor Ariza back after he missed a few days. Eric Gordon missed Saturday’s game with an illness and his status is in question. Once the Rockets get their pieces in place, they should be able to make a higher percentage with so many options to spread the defense.
Player to Watch
The Rockets have last year’s MVP runner-up and superstar Harden on their roster. The bearded one is off to another blazing start averaging over 25 points and nearly 10 assists per game. He’s been a constant in the lineup that has shuffled players in and out early in the year. Harden will put up his numbers, that’s just the type of player he is, but he’s had to do it without Paul, who will be sidelined until at least the middle of November.
Harden was at his best against Charlotte last week, posting his first triple-double of the season with 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He’s scored at least 20 points in every game while sinking at least four three-pointers four times. The Knicks have been better defensively in the early part of this season, but they remain susceptible to the three. Opponents are hitting nearly 35 percent from distance against them and the Rockets, led by Harden, love to launch.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Knicks have shown signs of being competitive and their victory in Cleveland is somewhat of a breakthrough for them. But they are still the Knicks and until we see some consistency from them, it’s hard to take them seriously. The interior defense is better with the addition of Enes Kanter, but the Rockets will shoot a good amount of threes, which takes Kanter and Kristaps Porzingis out of the equation.
New York will try and slow the game down, but the Rockets should have Ariza and Gordon back in the lineup, which will aid in their effort to run the floor and launch triples. The Rockets have had plenty of success against teams that aren’t from Memphis, and the Knicks are still trying to figure out rotations and playing time. Look for the Rockets, led by Harden, to overtake the home team for a cover win.
NBA Odds: Rockets 112, Knicks 105
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