New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/31/2026

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Venue:  Toyota Center, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  NBC, Peacock

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Knicks -1.5, Rockets +1.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Knicks -1.5, Rockets +1.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Knicks -1.5, Rockets +1.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

New York Knicks:  48-27 (2nd place, Atlantic Division)

Houston Rockets:  45-29 (2nd place, Southwest Division)

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New York Knicks:  7-3 last 10

Houston Rockets:  5-5 last 10

The Knicks are entering this game with a 48-27 record overall this season and they are 20-18 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Charlotte Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jalen Brunson led the team in points in that game with 32 while Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges each were next on the team with 15 points. Jalen Brunson led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Karl-Anthony Towns led the team in rebounds with 18. They were 43.9% from the field, 42.9% from 3-point range, and 76.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.5 PPG against them. The Knicks have an ATS record of 38-36 this season and their O/U record is 36-40.

The Rockets are entering this game with a 45-29 record overall this season and they are 25-10 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans. Alperen Şengün led the team in points in that game with 36 while Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each were next on the team with 20 points. Alperen Şengün led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Clint Capela led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 46.7% from the field, 40.9% from 3-point range, and 85.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 114.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.1 PPG against them. The Rockets have an ATS record of 31-43 this season and their O/U record is 33-40-1.

The current betting odds have the Knicks listed as a 1.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Knicks have looked great in their games this season with their 48-27 record overall which has them right near the top of the East. They have been a good road team too with their 20-18 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Rockets have looked good in their games this season with their 45-29 record overall which has them in the top half of the West. They have looked great on their home court too with their 25-11 home record this season. The Rockets have won 2 games in a row now so they are coming into this one with some momentum on their side, but both wins were against teams who aren't competing for the playoffs and a lot of their wins lately have been them beating up on bad teams. The Rockets haven't looked that good lately though, going 5-5 in their last 10 games, and they just haven't looked right lately as the wheels have been falling off for weeks now. The defense has been starting to slip lately too and now they have to face one of the best teams in the NBA who has been rolling lately. The Knicks have lost 2 games in a row now with tough losses to the red hot Hornets and the defending champion Thunder, but they are still 7-3 in their last 10 games and they will be looking to bounce back in this one. The Knicks have been one of the best teams in the NBA all season and they have looked like the better team lately. The Knicks have been getting hot at the right time so look for them to bounce back in this one and take advantage of a Rockets team that has been falling apart lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Knicks to cover the spread in this game. 

Knicks Rockets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Knicks 117 Rockets 109.

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New York Knicks: 30-11 ATS after scoring 100 points or less. 27-18 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%). 33-25 ATS off a road loss. 10-5 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%). 20-9 UNDER versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting 24 free throws/game or less. 

Houston Rockets: 13-22 ATS in home games. 29-42 ATS versus good passing teams, averaging 23 assists/game or more. 20-29 ATS versus good shooting teams - making 46% of their shots or more. 22-12 UNDER in home games. 12-2 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%).

New York Knicks:  M. McBride (PG) Day To Day - Undisclosed. L. Shamet (SG) Day To Day - Knee.

Houston Rockets:  S. Adams (C) Out For Season - Ankle. F. VanVleet (PG) Out For Season - ACL.

"You can't reach because the team does a fantastic job, starting with SGA, of getting the officials to believe a foul has occurred. Their gamesmanship is off the charts. They do a great job of exploiting it, so I tip my hat off to them." - Mike Brown after his team’s loss against the OKC Thunder in their game on Sunday. 

“He’s getting back to doing what he does really well and not just relying on shots to fall. He’s impacting the game. You see it with him slashing and cutting and offensive rebounding and getting steals – all the things he does to disrupt the game. I like the fact that he’s staying aggressive, hunting those threes. But all the other things that make him who he is have been great the last few games.” - Ime Udoka on Tari Eason after his team’s win against the Pelicans in their game on Sunday. 

PG Jalen Brunson

SG Josh Hart

SF Mikal Bridges

PF OG Anunoby

C Karl-Anthony Towns

PG Amen Thompson

SG Reed Sheppard

SF Kevin Durant

PF Jabari Smith Jr.

C Alperen Sengun

PPG: Jalen Brunson (26.3)

APG: Jalen Brunson (6.7)

Reb/G: Karl-Anthony Towns (11.9)

PPG: Kevin Durant (25.9)

APG: Alperen Sengun (6.2)

Reb/G: Alperen Sengun (9)

Coaches:

New York Knicks: Mike Brown (1st season)

Houston Rockets: Ime Udoka (3rd season)