Houston arrives at TD Garden in Boston this afternoon getting 2.5 points against a Celtics team that is working through some adversity lately, going 1-4 SU since the all-star break. Boston’s lone win came vs Washington on Friday night. The Rockets, meanwhile, have won four consecutive games since losing to the Lakers in their first game out of the break. The total is at 225.5 points.
Rockets vs Celtics Game Center
Standout Stats
- Kenneth Faried, Eric Gordon, Gerald Green and Iman Shumpert are all game-time decisions for the Rockets today. That’s a potential swing of 39.8 points in or out of the lineup. Faried and Gordon are listed as probable, Green is listed as questionable, while Shumpert is listed as doubtful.
- These teams played December 27 in Houston, a game the Rockets won 127-113. James Harden had 45 points while Kyrie Irving was Boston’s top scorer with 23. Houston hit 18 three-pointers In the game, 2.5 higher than their season average.
- Houston averaged 118 points per game in both January and February. Boston is allowing an average of 105.5 points per game at home this year where they are 24-9 SU and 20-13 ATS.
- Interestingly, the Celtics are just 5-6 SU and 4-7 ATS at home vs teams from the Western Conference, including 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS since January 18.
- The Rockets are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 road games and 2-8-1 ATS as the visitor in the Eastern Conference, including going 2-6 SU and 0-7-1 ATS in this spot since November 23. Houston is scoring just 108.7 points on the road in the East.
- The Celtics have the No. 6 three-point shooting team in the league this season, however, over their past 10 games, they are just 24th in the NBA at 33.8 percent. In games where they’ve shot less than 34 percent this season, they are 8-13 SU.
- Despite Houston winning seven of its past ten games, the Rockets opponents are shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc during that stretch, ranking No. 26 in the Association.
- Houston is 1-7 SU and ATS as a road dog of fewer than three points in the last two seasons, including 1-4 SU and ATS in that spot this season.
My Pick for Rockets vs Celtics
Celtics -2.5
I’ll be honest, I don’t love it, but I do like that the numbers are consistent in key areas here and point to Boston being able to cover this spread. It may be prudent to take the Celtics moneyline instead, and just bank on their home success.
Houston is clearly dealing with a number of injuries to key players and that should allow Boston to focus more on making life difficult for James Harden.
