NBA Knowledge
Tuesday's hot teams
-- Hornets won 10 of last 12 games; they upset the Spurs last nite at home (4-0 last 4AF).
-- Thunder won six of their last eight games (10-3 last 13HF).
-- Miami won seven of its last ten games (7-3 last 10AF).
Cold teams
-- Brooklyn lost six of its last seven games (6-12 last 18HU).
-- Rockets lost three of their last five games (8-12AU).
-- Pelicans lost five of last seven games; star Davis is now out for year (6-3 last 9HU).
-- Lakers lost six of their last eight games (3-2HF).
-- Grizzlies lost four of their last six games (8-8AU).
Series records
-- Nets lost three of last four games with Charlotte.
-- Thunder lost five of last six games with Houston.
-- Pelicans won three of last four games with Miami.
-- Lakers lost their last nine games with Memphis.
Totals
-- Five of last seven Charlotte-Brooklyn games went over.
-- Six of last eight Houston games went over the total.
-- Last six Miami games went over the total.
-- Six of last seven Laker games stayed under the total.
Back/backs
-- Charlotte covered three of last four if it played night before.
-- Grizzlies are 10-4 vs spread if they played night before.
Armadillosports.com
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma Thunder
For the most part, the standings at the top of the Western Conference look pretty much set in stone, especially in the top 3 positions, which seem unlikely to change in the final few weeks of the regular season. The same cannot be said for the final playoff spots in the west, as you have 4 teams fighting for just 3 places, and only a game and a half separating them right now.
The Houston Rockets, who experienced a truly awful start to the season, are right in the middle of that pack, and they know they are going to have their work cut out for them on Tuesday night if they are to hold on to their current #7 seed. The Rockets have to travel to Oklahoma City to face a Thunder team that has been something of an offensive juggernaut of late. The updated odds for this game can be found by visiting the MyBookie NBA betting page.
Why Bet on the Houston Rockets
This may not have been a season to remember for the Rockets (35-35) to this point, but they can take some solace from the fact that the Thunder are a team that they have had pretty good recent success against. Houston won all 3 games against OKC last season, and have spilt the first 2 games against them this year. The loss that they took this season came on the road in Oklahoma City, but that was a game that could have gone either way. The Rockets are well aware that they need to stack up a few more wins before they can safely secure a playoff spot, and a 6-4 record in their last 10 games suggests they may be able to do just that. Houston are averaging 106.1 PPG, and are giving up 107.0 PPG.
Why Bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder (48-22) are in a position that could be something of a blessing or a curse at the moment. They are way ahead of everyone else in their division, and have a 3rd place seeding in the Western Conference that is not likely to change before the end of the season. That would be enough to make any team a little comfortable, and the Thunder took a little bit of criticism after going on a stretch of games that saw them lose 6 of 9. The harsh words used against them seems to have hit home, as they have now reeled off 4 straight games, scoring at least 111 points in all of them. This is a team that suddenly look very dangerous again. OKC are averaging 110.2 PPG, and are giving up 103.0 PPG.
Pick and Final Score Prediction
It may be tempting to go with the Rockets in this one given their recent record against the Thunder, but I just think that OKC are playing to well right now. Throw in the fact that they are also 27-9 at home this season, and I believe that all adds up to a Thunder win.
Houston Rockets 103 Oklahoma City Thunder 111
Game of the Day: Rockets at Thunder
By Covers.com
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
The Houston Rockets are clinging to a playoff spot in the Western Conference as four teams battle for the final three slots. The Rockets aren’t getting much help from the schedule in their quest to move up the standings and will visit Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Houston fell at the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday and is one game ahead of the ninth-place Utah Jazz, who visit the Rockets on Wednesday. Starting with the loss to Atlanta on Saturday, Houston is playing a stretch of nine straight games against teams currently in the top eight of their respective conferences. The Thunder sit comfortably in third place in the West thanks to the heroics of Kevin Durant and Westbrook, who would likely be the leading MVP candidate if Golden State’s Stephen Curry weren’t enjoying a historic season. Westbrook picked up his 14th triple-double of the season with 14 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in a 115-111 win at Indiana on Saturday and has recorded five triple-doubles in the last eight games to help Oklahoma City gain some separation from the fourth-place Los Angeles Clippers in the standings.
INJURY REPORT:
Rockets - SG J. Harden (Questionable Tuesday, ankle)
Thunder - SF K. Durant (Probable Tuesday, elbow) C S. Adams (Probable Tuesday, elbow) SF K. Singler (Questionable Tuesday, back)
POWER RANKINGS: Rockets (-2) - Thunder (-9.8) + home court (-3) = Thunder -10.8
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (35-35): Houston is tied with the Dallas Mavericks for seventh place in the West, one game ahead of the Jazz and a half-game behind the sixth-place Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets not only suffered a 109-97 loss to the Hawks on Saturday but also got involved in some controversy when center Dwight Howard was caught putting stickum on the basketball, and they were dealt a blow when James Harden sprained his ankle in the third quarter. Harden, who averages 28.6 points, reportedly could sit out practice on Monday and is day-to-day.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (48-22): Oklahoma City already clinched its playoff spot and is in tune-up mode with a 4 1/2-game lead over the Clippers for the No. 3 spot. Westbrook is in a bit of a shooting slump and went 4-of-17 from the field on Saturday, but keeps finding ways to help the team win. “I’m just trying to insert myself into the game,” Westbrook told reporters. “I know some nights shots won’t fall for me. I’m one of the only guys who can do different things on the floor - rebound, pass or defend – on a night-in, night-out basis. That’s what I try to do.”
TRENDS:
* Rockets are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
* Thunder are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
* Over is 7-0 in Rockets last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
* Under is 5-0 in Thunder last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Tuesday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Monday Review
Favorites: 7-2 straight-up, 4-5 against the spread
Biggest underdog to win outright: Wizards (+7) 117-102 over the Hawks
Totals: 7-2 to the ‘under’
Highest total on board: 232½, Warriors beat Wolves, 109-104
Lowest total on board: 196, Hornets beat Spurs, 91-88
Hornets at Nets
Charlotte (40-30 SU, 37-32-1 ATS) pulled off its most memorable victory of the season on Monday, erasing a 21-point deficit to stun San Antonio, 91-88 as six-point home underdogs. Two nights after putting together a sluggish effort in an eight-point home loss to Denver, the Hornets started slow out of the gate falling in a 28-7 hole after 12 minutes. However, Steve Clifford’s club outscored the Spurs, 84-60 over the final three quarters, led by guard Jeremy Lin’s 29 points off the bench.
Since suffering back-to-back road blowouts at Utah and Portland to close out January, the Hornets have caught fire by winning 18 of their last 23 games to remain in the running for the Southeast division title. In this span, Charlotte has posted a 15-8 ATS record, including an impressive 7-2 ATS mark away from Time Warner Cable Arena. Nine of the next 12 games for the Hornets come on the highway, including four straight beginning tonight. Three of the four contests on this road swing are against teams not headed to the playoffs, including Milwaukee and Philadelphia at the end of the trip.
It’s been a rough finish for Brooklyn (19-50 SU, 34-34-1 ATS), who has lost eight of its final 10 games to become the fourth team to reach the 50-loss plateau. Brooklyn’s defense has been shredded of late by allowing at least 109 points in the past four contests, resulting in four consecutive ‘overs.’ The Nets own a 1-4 ATS record the previous five games, including back-to-back losses at Chicago and Detroit. Brooklyn is looking to break through against Charlotte for the first time this season after losing each of the first two matchups, as the Hornets cruised past the Nets at Barclays Center in the last meeting, 104-96 in February.
Rockets at Thunder
Both of these Western Conference clubs have been tough to figure out times, as Oklahoma City (48-22 SU, 30-39-1 ATS) seeks its fifth consecutive victory. Following a shaky start to the second half (4-8 SU, 5-6-1 ATS), the Thunder picked things up by sweeping a three-game road trip at Boston, Philadelphia, and Indiana. Billy Donovan’s team has lost four of six contests at Chesapeake Energy Arena since the All-Star break, but has an important week at home by hosting the Rockets, Jazz, and Spurs over the next five days.
The Thunder and Rockets have split a pair of meetings this season with the home team winning each time. Houston knocked off OKC as 4½-point home underdogs on November 2 with a 110-105 victory for its third straight victory at the Toyota Center over the Thunder. Oklahoma City picked up revenge in late January by holding off Houston, 116-108, but the Rockets covered as 8½-point underdogs. Houston was held to 38% shooting from the floor, while Rockets’ center Dwight Howard converted only 4-of-15 free throws.
Houston (35-35 SU, 30-40 ATS) has won six of its last seven games off a loss, coming off Saturday’s 109-97 setback at Atlanta as 6 ½-point underdogs. The Rockets scored less than 100 points for the first time in 11 games, as the ‘over’ has hit in six of the past eight contests. Houston has put together a 7-5 ATS record in its last 12 opportunities as a road underdog, which includes outright wins over Toronto, Boston, and Portland since the All-Star break. Rockets’ All-Star guard James Harden is questionable for tonight with a twisted left ankle suffered in Sunday’s loss at Atlanta, as he has yet to miss a game this season.
Heat at Pelicans
The three-horse race atop the Southeast division continues to heat up with less than a month remaining as Miami (40-29 SU, 36-32-1 ATS) begins a two-game road trip in the Big Easy. The Heat dominated old friend LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Saturday night, 122-101 to easily cash as four-point home underdogs, while eclipsing the ‘over’ for the sixth consecutive game. Erik Spoelstra’s team has scored at least 100 points in all 10 games this month, while putting together a 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS record in March.
New Orleans (26-43 SU, 29-40 ATS) has suffered through a season of injuries and received the biggest blow over the weekend when it found out that star Anthony Davis will be sidelined the rest of the way with a shoulder injury. The Pelicans shocked the Clippers without Davis on Saturday night, 109-105 as 10-point home underdogs to pick up only their third win in their past 12 contests. New Orleans is also on a nice ‘over’ run, hitting the ‘over’ in eight of the last nine games, including an 8-1 mark in the past nine contests at Smoothie King Center.
The Heat and Pelicans needed overtime to decide their last meeting on Christmas day in Miami as the Heat came out on top, 94-88 to cover as four-point favorites. The Pelicans erased a late 11-point deficit to force overtime, but Chris Bosh led Miami with a game-high 30 points. Miami has struggled in New Orleans the last few seasons by dropping three of the past four meetings at Smoothie King Center.
Grizzlies at Lakers
In spite of a rash of injuries, Memphis (41-30 SU, 38-32-1 ATS) sits in fifth place of the Western Conference and hopes to have all its healthy pieces back for the playoffs. The Grizzlies overcame an 11-point halftime deficit in Monday’s 103-97 victory at Phoenix to cash as three-point favorites to pick up their second straight win. Memphis shot 43% from the floor, while Lance Stephenson continues to be a huge spark off the bench by putting up double-figures for the sixth straight game, scoring 16 points.
The Lakers (14-55 SU, 31-38 ATS) wrap up their eight-game homestand as they have dropped each of the last four contests at Staples Center. The offense failed to reach the 100-point mark in each of the past three losses to non-playoff teams New York, Sacramento, and Phoenix, while falling short to the Suns on Friday night as a four-point favorite, 95-90. Eight of the last 10 games for Byron Scott’s team have finished ‘under’ the total, including six times on this current homestand.
The Grizzlies go for the four-game season sweep of the Lakers, as Memphis routed Los Angeles in its most recent visit to Staples Center on February 26 in a 112-95 triumph as five-point favorites. Memphis has won nine consecutive matchups with Los Angeles dating back to 2014, while the Grizzlies have cashed all three meetings this season in the favorite role.
Rockets visit OKC
By Sportsbook.ag
HOUSTON ROCKETS (35-35) at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (48-22)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Oklahoma City -9, 222.5
The Thunder will be looking for a fifth consecutive victory when they host the Rockets on Tuesday.
The Rockets went into Atlanta on Saturday and lost 109-97 as 6.5-point underdogs against the Hawks. They have now lost three of their past five games and have failed to cover in four of those five. The Thunder, meanwhile, are coming off of a 115-111 victory as three-point favorites in Indiana on Saturday.
Oklahoma City has now won four straight games and the team has covered in five of its past seven as well. One thing this team is doing is playing some stifling defense, as its opponents have shot 45% or less from the field in five of the past six contests.
The Rockets and Thunder have met twice this season and each team has won when playing at home, but Houston is 2-0 ATS in this series on the year. Oklahoma City is, however, 3-2 both SU and ATS when playing the Rockets at Chesapeake Energy Center over the past three seasons. Three of those five games also happened to have gone UNDER the total. One thing that favors the Rockets in this game is the fact that they are 19-6 ATS when playing on Tuesday nights over the past three seasons. They also get to face a Thunder team that is just 17-18 ATS in home games this season.
SG James Harden (Ankle) is listed as questionable for Houston in this one and Oklahoma City could be without SF Kevin Durant (Elbow), who is listed as questionable as well.
The Rockets are going to be trying to steal a win in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, but that will be very hard to do if SG James Harden (28.6 PPG, 7.2 APG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG) does not play. Harden is averaging 22.8 PPG and 9.6 APG over the past five contests, but he has a very bad ankle at the moment. Houston needs him to find a way to be productive if he is on the court, but if he can’t play then C Dwight Howard (14.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG) will need to be ready for all the touches he can handle.
Howard is averaging just 9.4 PPG over the past five contests, but the Rockets will run their offense through him if Harden doesn’t play. Howard is a lot bigger and stronger than Oklahoma City’s centers, so he should be able to score around the rim in this one.
Another guy who may be called upon to step up with Harden banged up is SF Michael Beasley (14.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG). Beasley has been nothing short of amazing since signing with Houston when his season ended in China a few weeks ago. He’s coming off of a 30-point and nine-rebound performance against the Hawks and is the type of isolation scorer that could do an admirable job in Harden’s position in this one.
SF Trevor Ariza (12.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 SPG) can also help the Rockets by finding his stroke on Tuesday. He’s hitting just 31.0% of his outside shots over the past five contests and will need to do a lot better than that on Tuesday.
The Thunder have gotten hot recently and both PG Russell Westbrook (23.8 PPG, 10.4 APG, 7.7 RPG, 2.1 SPG) and SF Kevin Durant (28.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.3 BPG) are playing well for Oklahoma City. Westbrook has been in a bit of a shooting slump, but he is still averaging 18.8 PPG, 10.4 APG, 9.4 RPG and 1.8 SPG over the past five contests. He is a threat to record a triple-double every night and is doing an excellent job of finding his teammates lately. The Thunder need him to continue playing unselfish basketball moving forward.
Durant, meanwhile, is coming off of a ridiculous performance against the Pacers on Saturday. He played 37 minutes in that game and finished with 33 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. He’ll likely need to get hot again in this one, as the Rockets are capable of putting up a ton of points when Harden is healthy. Durant could, however, be absent from this game and that would mean Westbrook would need to be more aggressive as a scorer.
C Enes Kanter (12.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG) would also be counted on to score more if Durant sits. He’s playing very well lately, averaging 17.0 PPG and 10.6 RPG over the past five contests.