Heat vs. Rockets Prediction
The Rockets dropped their first game following the All-Star Break, but have rattled off three straight wins, including last night’s 118-113 victory over the Hornets. Is Houston laying too many points to the visiting Miami Heat Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
535 Miami Heat at 536 Houston Rockets
8:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, February 28, 2019
Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Rockets are 9.5-point favorites to beat the Heat. The total, meanwhile, sits at 219 points and as of this writing, 58% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Rockets to cover the point spread.
Miami Heat Fantasy Spin
Hassan Whiteside (hip strain) has been ruled out for Thursday against the Rockets. He did not even travel for this game in a back-to-back set. With this news, Bam Adebayo has to be owned in standard leagues after his double-double on Wednesday. Kelly Olynyk should also be owned while the rest of the rotation gets a slight boost. Whiteside’s fantasy owners probably have to hold him, but he could miss more than these two games.
Houston Rockets Fantasy Spin
James Harden made 10-of-29 FGs and 9-of-9 FTs for 30 points vs. the Hornets on Wednesday, adding seven assists, two steals, one block, one 3-pointer and one turnover in 36 minutes. Harden began this game 0-of-8 from deep and had missed 22 straight until he drained a triple in the third quarter. He repeatedly grabbed his right wrist throughout the game and eventually ditched a wrap around his wrist, so that’s something to monitor going forward. The fact that Houston still pulled out a victory isn’t surprising because Harden and Chris Paul have the best winning percentages vs. the Hornets of any active players — they’re both above 90% in their careers vs. Charlotte.
NBA Betting Trends
Miami
The Heat have covered the spread in five of their last seven road games.
Houston
The Rockets are just 1-3-1 against the number in their last five games overall and have failed to cover in four of their previous five home games.
Prediction
The Rockets have won seven of their last 10 and are a stellar 21-9 at home this season, but they’re just 4-5-1 against the spread over their last 10 and have not been a good play at the betting window. In their last eight games versus the Eastern Conference, they are 1-6-1 against the spread. In their last five games versus the Heat, they’re just 1-4 at the window. Miami, meanwhile, is 39-15-2 against the number in their last 56 road games versus a team with a winning home record and if you’re worried about the Heat playing on back-to-back nights, don’t be. They’re 23-10-1 against the spread in their last 34 games playing on zero rest.
Thursday NBA Prediction: Miami Heat +9.5