The New York Knicks will host the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in a matchup between two strong teams. The Knicks, with a 35-21 record, are coming off a loss to the Detroit Pistons, while the Rockets, at 34-20, defeated the Charlotte Hornets recently. Betting odds list the Knicks as 3.5-point favorites with an over/under of 219.5 points.
The Houston Rockets (34-20), second in the Southwest Division, travel to face the New York Knicks (35-21), second in the Atlantic Division, on Saturday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Knicks hold a strong 21-8 home record this season, while the Rockets are 16-13 on the road.
Both teams recently played on Thursday. Houston secured a 105-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, whereas New York fell 126-111 to the Detroit Pistons. This game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season; last year, they split the series with each home team winning.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Knicks are favored by 3.5 points, with a moneyline of Knicks -164 and Rockets +137. The over/under total is set at 219.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates games 10,000 times, predicts the over will hit in 61% of simulations, projecting a combined 226 points. It forecasts Jalen Brunson to score 25.4 points for New York and Kevin Durant 23.2 points for Houston.
Other analyses vary. A same-game parlay from CBS Sports includes Knicks -3, over 219.5, and Durant under 24.5 points, with the model projecting Durant at 23.1 points. In contrast, Yahoo Sports picks suggest Knicks -3.5 and under 219, noting Houston's recent 3-10 against-the-spread record in the last month and a drop in offensive rating.
The Knicks are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games, while the Rockets are 2-8. New York is 31-26 ATS overall and 19-9-1 at home. Houston stands at 23-31 ATS. This interconference contest could preview playoff intensity, though outcomes remain uncertain based on current form and projections.
