The Houston Rockets have been flying high recently, winning seven of their last eight games and now welcome the Boston Celtics to the Toyota Center. This is the first of two meetings this season between these two clubs, with the home team winning each of the last four contests and Houston claiming victory in the last match in March of this year. The Rockets are a two-point favorite tonight with the total Sportsbook at 217 points.
- Houston is 7-1 SU and 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 10 of the last 12 meetings between Houston and Boston.
- Boston is 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five road games.
Celtics offense has taken a turn for the better
Boston looks to get on its third extended win streak of the season as it has won its last two after a three-game losing skid. Prior to that brief losing slide, Boston had rattled off eight straight victories and its offense has come to life. On the season, the Celtics score the 12th-most points per game at 111.6, however, since the calendar has flipped to December, they are leading the association with 118.6 points per game, two points higher than second place Sacramento. Starting point guard Kyrie Irving has elevated his game as on the season he is averaging 23.3 points per game but has risen to 25.3 points per game this month, including shooting 44.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The Celtics are hitting the second-most treys per game in the league at 14.1, 0.6 triples fewer than their counterparts tonight, Houston. Defensively, Boston has given up the fourth-fewest points per game in the NBA at 105, but as its offense has come alive, it has come at the cost of the defense as this month it has surrendered an average of 107.3 ppg which is the 11th-fewest. Additionally, the Celtics have been pressuring the opposing ball handlers, creating the fourth-most turnovers per game this month which has them leading the league with 22.3 points off turnovers per game.
Rockets on their best stretch of the season
Houston is rolling recently, winning seven of its last eight games, including its last two in a row and the majority of success can be attributed to the beard. Point guard James Harden has scored 30 or more points in seven straight games, including 40 or more points in three of those contests, additionally, he had a team-high in assists in six of the matches. The Rockets do the majority of their damage from three-point range as they average the most triple attempts per game at 42.4, hitting 14.6 per game, also the most in the league with 40.1 percent of their points coming at long range. However, they take the third-fewest shots per game at 85.8 and that has resulted in them having the third-slowest pace of play in the NBA.
Meanwhile, on defense they have been clamping down, allowing 105.9 points per game in December which is the ninth-fewest in the association which is nearly three points fewer ppg than their season average. Center Clint Capela has done a better job cleaning the glass as he is grabbing an average of 13.6 rebounds per game this month which is 1.1 more than his season average, including 8.8 defensive boards per game in December compared to 7.5 on the year – much needed as Houston secures the fewest defensive rebounds per game in the league at 30.6.
Is the UNDER the bet to make?
Boston and Houston are both riding high on two-game win streaks and strong Sportsbooks thus far in December overall and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 217 points. The Rockets have gone UNDER in seven of their last 11 games with an average combined score of 213.73. Meanwhile, the total has gone UNDER in 10 of the Celtics’ last 12 games vs the Rockets with an average combined score of 203, granted their last meeting had a combined score of 243. Lastly, Houston gets 40.1 percent of its points from three-pointers which is the most in the league, while Boston sits second in the association with 35.5 percent of its points coming from long range, however, the Celtics limit their opponents to the third-fewest three-point percentage at 33 and the Rockets rank eighth with their foes shooting just 34.2 percent. I think we are in store for another UNDER.
My take on Boston vs Houston
I like the UNDER 217 points. These two teams have a similar game plan, shoot from long range and hold their opponents to a low three-point percentage. The Rockets and Celtics have been UNDER machines when they play each other with 10 of their last 12 games going UNDER with an average combined score of 203. Houston’s third-slowest pace of play drags its opponents down with it and Boston ranks 17th itself. Lastly, the Rockets have tightened up their defense, allowing just 105.9 points per game this month which is the ninth-fewest in the association and they have gone UNDER in seven of their last 11 games with an average combined score of 213.73 with only three games going OVER 217 points.
