Houston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 24, 2020 ) New York 112, Houston 123

The Houston Rockets had to work overtime to keep their winning streak intact on Saturday but came away with another signature victory thanks to Russell Westbrook. The former MVP will try to keep his hot streak going and lead the Rockets to a seventh consecutive win when they visit the New York Knicks on Monday.

Westbrook totaled 41 points on 16-of-27 shooting, eight rebounds and five assists in Saturday's 111-110 overtime triumph at Boston, carrying the team while fellow former MVP James Harden struggled from the floor. "Right now, I think I'm moving in the right direction," Westbrook told reporters after his fourth 40-plus effort of the season. "I've just got to stay locked in with what I'm doing, with my craft and what I've been doing since I've been in the league." Westbrook averages 26.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 19 career games against the Knicks, who snapped a six-game slide with a 125-115 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. New York was playing the first of a five-game homestand against the Bulls after going winless on a three-game trip that began with a 123-112 loss at Houston last Monday - a game Westbrook sat out.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, MSG, Sportsnet One

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (39-20): Westbrook averaged 33.4 points on 54.9 percent shooting in eight February games and is thriving in Houston's small ball system while taking advantage of the driving lanes open without a center in the middle. "I just try to find ways every year to be better and find ways to become a better player and teammate," Westbrook told reporters. "Obviously, based on the changes we made and the way we line up, I have to find ways to constantly keep being effective and help my team win games and that's what I try to do." Westbrook's uptick in performance has come with a decrease in 3-point attempts while Harden and the rest of the team continue to bomb away from deep, going 15-of-55 from beyond the arc in Saturday's win.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (18-42): New York is trying to develop its young players and plans on making RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson big parts of the future. Robinson collected 23 points and 10 rebounds off the bench on Saturday while Knox scored 12 points in 21 minutes and Barrett scored 19 on 8-of-10 shooting in the triumph. "RJ was so sharp that first half and really was the whole game," interim coach Mike Miller told reporters. "He tried to play within the game and Mitchell obviously was outstanding and you have to mention Kevin Knox. He had four offensive rebounds and made energy plays. An outstanding game for him."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets F Robert Covington hauled in a career-high 16 rebounds on Saturday.

2. Knicks PF Julius Randle recorded a double-double in three of the last four games.

3. Houston owns an eight-game winning streak in the series and Harden scored 61 points in the team's 114-110 win at New York last season.

PREDICTION: Rockets 124, Knicks 106