Knicks looking to extend winning streak to three against an inconsistent but solid Rockets team
After a two-day layoff, the New York Knicks continue their four-game road trip with a matchup against a Houston Rockets team that has had an interesting season thus far. They started off the season with a disappointing five-point loss to the Hornets to kick off the season. Then they answered back with a dominant 20-point win against the Grizzlies. Just a day later though, they dropped a game to a young Spurs team, which was then followed up with a victory against the very same Spurs team and a Mavericks team that is just a few months removed from making the NBA Finals. And on Saturday night, they fell behind big against the Warriors, trailing by as much as 31 points, before sending the game into overtime thanks to a big second half.
The Knicks, despite being a bit less unstable than the Rockets, have gone through some ups and downs of their own. They kicked off the season with a 23-point (it felt a lot worse than that) to the Celtics on opening night and lost to a dominant Cavaliers team in game number three. But they’ve beaten the Pacers, Heat, and Pistons by an average margin of 21.3 points per game. And despite the reputations of these two squads, this matchup between two three-win teams looking to move up in the standings could be a close one.
The Knicks have thus far fared a bit better offensively as they currently rank third in the league in offensive rating, but the Rockets aren’t too far behind ranking 11th. Defensively, New York has been better as of late, climbing up to 16th in defensive rating, but Houston holds the advantage there as they currently rank 11th there as well. And the net ratings come out pretty evenly as the Knicks rank fifth with a net rating of 8.3, while the Rockets rank ninth with a net rating of 3.6.
One thing to keep an eye on could be the assist numbers for both of these teams. New York has improved on their passing as the season has gone on, but still has the fourth-lowest assist percentage in the league, while the Rockets have the second-lowest in the league. If those trends hold up, you’d have to imagine that the Knicks, who’ll clearly have the two best players in the game, would have the upper advantage in terms of shot-creation and shot-making.
Another thing that could come into play is the free-throw shooting. The Rockets attempt 25.3 free-throws per game, which ranks 12th in the league, and is a lot more than the 18.6 attempts that the Knicks get per game. That being said, New York commits the least fouls per game, while the Rockets commit the fourth most per game. Aside from the aforementioned passing and assist numbers, the game could come down to which team can get to the free-throw line more, and prevent the opponents from doing the same.
Projected Starters
Former rumored target of the Knicks, Fred VanVleet mans the ship in Houston as the starting point guard. He started off the season scoring 14 points, 16 points, and 18 points, but has since been on an abysmal three-game run, scoring a combined 26 points and shooting just 8/39 (20.5%) in those games.
After a couple years of not being able to take the jump that everyone expected, it seems like starting shooting guard Jalen Green has finally figured it out. It’s only been six games, but the 22-year-old is averaging 24.2PPG despite scoring just seven points in Saturday night’s loss. If the Knicks are to come away with a win tonight, they’ll have to make sure they keep him contained as he’s already gone for 29 or more points twice this season.
Serving as the defensive captain and the enforcer on this team once again is Dillon Brooks. The former Grizzlies wingman, like VanVleet, has had an up-and-down season thus far offensively, scoring 16 or more in three of the team’s first five games while shooting 40% or higher from the field in those games. But he’s had a tough time putting the ball in the basket in the other three games, scoring seven or fewer points in each of those games. On the season, Brooks is shooting just 30% from three and just 36.5% from the field.
While VanVleet, and Brooks have struggled mightily, Jabari Smith has been the opposite. The third-year big man started the season slowly, averaging just 9.7PPG on 33.3% shooting through the first three games, but since then, he’s averaging 17.3PPG on 47.2% shooting from the field and 36.4% from three on 7.3 attempts per game.
Manning the middle for Houston is Alperen Sengun. The Turkish center was having a career year last season, averaging 21.1PPG and 9.3RPG before an injury ended his season. So far in the 24-25 campaign, he’s gotten off to a slow start, averaging just 15PPG on 38.6% shooting from the field. Things took an interesting turn on Saturday night though when the center was benched in Saturday night’s loss. Sengun looked good offensively, scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes but was seen on the bench for the majority of the Rockets’ second-half comeback that was fueled by backup forward Tari Eason. That benching didn’t sit well with some Turkish NBA analysts, who shared their thoughts on Sengun’s situation and role within the Rockets plans. Sengun himself seems to be confident though, saying, “I feel good, body-wise. I’ve missed a lot of shots, I said that after the first game too, the easy shots I used to make. I’m not worried about it, I’m gonna make those, I know it, so it’s just gonna come, and I’ll find my rhythm.”
Injury Report
Houston: Steven Adams (knee) GTD
New York: Cameron Payne (hamstring) Doubtful, Mitchell Robinson (foot), Precious Achiuwa (hamstring), Kevin McCullar Jr. (knee) all remain out
Prediction
Houston may not have the top-end talent to scare anyone, and on paper, their team looks flawed and average. But as we all saw last season, defeating the Rockets, especially in Houston, is no easy task. They are well-coached and play very hard, and what they lack in star power, they make up with depth and effort. Green has taken the next step and could catch fire on a moment’s notice, VanVleet, despite experiencing some struggles, is still a solid player, and Sengun and Smith both are capable big men. That being said the Knicks are more talented and should be favorites heading into tonight’s game. Hopefully, New York won’t get screwed over by a horrendous game-deciding foul call at the end of a game this year, and build on what has been a nice two-game run over the last few days. Knicks win a slow-paced defensive-oriented game 110-105.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks at Houston Rockets
When: Monday, November 4, 2024 at 8:45 p.m. ET
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Watch: MSG Network, NBA League Pass
Follow: @ptknicksblog