New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets Prediction: The Rockets will put up a good fight against the Knicks

The Knicks have not lost to Houston in three years. The New York Knicks need such an opponent to break their losing streak and improve their chances of making the playoffs. Will the home team be able to beat the Eastern Conference underdog?

New York doesn't even rank in the top 20 of the NBA in assists-to-loss percentage, and the loss of crucial playmaker, Jalen Brunson, is particularly significant for such a team. Brunson missed the last game, and his participation is now in question. In general, even having Jalen was no guarantee of success. New York lost their previous three games, but the problems on offense appeared right after Brunson departed. The team scored 120+ points against Minnesota and Miami and then went down in their last game against Orlando.

Against the Magic, Immanuel Quickley was the primary point guard, and he looked decent overall. The only problems were Julius Randle and RJ Barrett playing below their potential, making only 10 of 32 shots. The final score was 105:111, a loss for the Knicks. Quentin Grimes was by far the best player on the team that night. The young guard made five 3-pointers, scored 25 points, and had six assists and three steals. Under the basket, Mitchell Robinson played good defense. Still, his helplessness on the court was obvious even to average viewers.

The Rockets are a clear contender to be the worst team in the NBA. There's also Detroit, but at least the Pistons can justify a consistent loss. On the other hand, Houston has assembled an interesting young core, probably due to a coach who can't unlock the potential of his charges. The team makes a lot of silly mistakes and is last in the assist-to-loss ratio for a reason. The Rockets are 29th in defensive rating - only San Antonio is worse.

Houston has had some good stretches this season, but now the club is on another black streak. After three wins in a row, the team lost five games. Houston's opponents were all playoff contenders who should not be relaxed. Against Memphis, Houston's offense looked good on the whole, but they did nothing against Cleveland. The final score was 91:108. Jalen Green scored 30 points with five three-pointers, while the rest of the team made only one shot from beyond the arc. Kenyon Martin and Alperen Shengyun played effectively but were not so visible that they could influence the result.

New York has looked broken lately, and rectifying the situation won't be easy. Jaylen Brunson may return to the lineup. Randle and Barrett have given up a bit. Houston, of course, has a lot of problems, but he's been known to put up some excellent performances. Green is good, and Martin and Shengun have no complaints. All that remains is for their teammates to step up. The Knicks will likely win, but it won't be a blowout.