The Houston Rockets and New York Knicks are both playing for the best seeding they possibly can when they meet on Wednesday, April 1, at 12:00 AEDT.

The two teams are assured of a place in the NBA Playoffs, but neither has guaranteed their seeding as of yet. Both remain in contention for a strong ranking, but the final few games will determine where they end up and the route they'll have to go through to reach the NBA Finals.

Quick Picks

• Our pick: Knicks to win

• Value bet: Rockets in the handicap

• Long shot: Knicks to win 1-10 points

Betting Preview

The Rockets will feel good about their chances of winning this game, even if they're coming up against a team that has already enjoyed plenty of success in Mike Brown's first year in charge.

The Rockets are strong at home, going 25-10 when playing in Houston. The biggest issue that they've perhaps had recently is in regard to form. 

Over the last 10 games before their match against the New Orleans Pelicans on the road, they've gone 5-5.

Still, it's perhaps due to the injuries they've experienced to key personnel throughout the season, including season-ending knocks for Fred VanVleet (since September) and Steven Adams (since January).

The Knicks won the NBA Cup in December and have continued to be one of the best teams in the East. While they have performed solidly at home, they have still managed to travel relatively well when on the road.

Entering this game, they'll have played the Oklahoma City Thunder in an away trip, but they were 20-17 as visitors. In addition, they were 7-3 over their last 10 games, highlighting the positive basketball they've been playing recently.

Betting Markets to Watch

When looking at the last 20 games between these two franchises, they share a 10-10 record. The Knicks have enjoyed more recent success, having won the last two meetings, both of which were in the Big Apple.

In Houston, the Rockets have won the last two, ending an eight-game winning streak for the Knicks against them.

This is where things become interesting from a betting perspective. We think that this game will likely be close, with the Knicks likely to be the favourites. 

With this in mind, we think there'll be value in the handicap for the Rockets. Games can be close, with the previous meeting ending 108-106 in February 2026.

Kevin Durant had 30 points in that game and will offer value to achieve 30+ once again. He has been able to reach this number on a few occasions over the last 10 or so games, but it's not been as often as usual.

Still, he's a big-game player, and this one is massive for Houston's seeding chances.

Our Prediction

Check the latest NBA betting odds at Sportsbet.

We believe a Knicks win is the most likely outcome, but we think there's value in a small margin of victory. It's why we believe the value is worth exploring in the Big Win Little Win market of the Knicks 1-10 points. For more insights on upcoming matchups, check out our NBA tips and predictions.