Spurs vs. Rockets Pick
Can the Houston Rockets keep up their scoring pace when they play host to the San Antonio Spurs tonight at 9:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Houston is favored at home, as the Rockets are getting odds of -8 points against the Spurs. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 214.5 points. San Antonio has won four of its last five meetings with Houston and the Spurs are 3-2 against the spread in those five games. Tonight’s game takes place from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and will air live on ESPN.
The Rockets are riding an 11-game winning streak right now to get to 22-4 on the season. Houston is 10-3 at home this year while posting a 14-11-1 mark against the spread. Houston is 0-2-1 against the spread in its last three games. The Rockets are putting up 114.8 points per game on offense while giving up just 103.7 per contest. James Harden is putting up 31.6 points, 9.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game this year while Chris Paul is adding 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 9.6 assists per contest.
San Antonio had a four-game win streak snapped on Tuesday night in a 95-89 loss at Dallas. The Spurs are now 19-9 on the season with a 6-7 mark on the road. San Antonio is 14-13-1 against the spread, but they have failed to cover in their last two games. The Spurs are scoring 101.1 points per game on offense while allowing just 97.5 per game. On the road, the Spurs are averaging only 94.8 per game on offense. Kawhi Leonard returned to action in the last game, but played just 16 minutes and had 13 points. His minutes could increase slightly tonight. LaMarcus Aldridge is leading the team with 22.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
The Spurs should continue to get better with Leonard joining the team, but that will still be a work in progress as he gets his legs underneath him. San Antonio doesn’t have the offense to keep pace with Houston. Not many do. The Rockets would need an off night shooting, and I don’t think that will happen in Houston. The public betting siding with the Rockets slightly, and I tend to agree. I will take the home team minus the points.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ROCKETS -8