With the NBA being such a long season with peaks and valley, handicapping a team riding a streak involves experience and perspective. The Los Angeles Lakers have won eight straight games, positioning themselves as the Western Conference’s third seed and owning the tiebreaker over the three teams right below them in the standings.

Kevin Durant scored 25 points in three periods as the Houston Rockets snapped the visiting Atlanta Hawks' 11-game winning streak with a 117-95 victory on Friday.

In the most recent matchup between these teams Jan. 21, the Knicks got a 120-66 home win, easily covering as 12.5-point favorites.