The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets in both of their previous meetings this year, including by 20 points on October 26, but they open as an underdog on home court tonight vs James Harden and the other guys. This line has flipped a couple of times, so shopping around makes sense. These are the two best teams in the NBA in terms of winning percentage since the all-star break. The total opened at 229.
Rockets vs Clippers Game Center
Standout Stats
- Here’s something that may surprise you – the Houston Rockets have the best scoring defense in the NBA since the all-star break at 104.6 points per game.
- The total has gone UNDER in six of the Rockets’ last eight road games with an average combined score of 215.6 and in six of the Rockets’ last seven games vs the Pacific Division. The closing totals went OVER 217.5 and 220.5 in the first two meetings between these teams.
- The Clippers are 15-4 SU since the all-star break and are scoring 117.6 points per game. Their +5.3 scoring differential is No. 6. Incidentally, the Rockets are No. 2 in scoring differential (+8.6) and are 17-4 SU since the break.
- Houston is just 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS on a back-to-back on the road, including a 115-112 loss to the Clippers in LA on October 21. LA was a 2-point favorite in that one. Additionally, the Rockets are 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS in their last seven games vs the Clippers.
- The Clippers are keeping opponents to 33.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc since the all-star break (fifth). Houston takes the most three-point attempts in the league but is converting at just 36.4 percent in the second half of the season (10th).
- At the same time, LA is shooting 38.5 percent from outside, eclipsed only by the Raptors’ mark of 41.9 percent.
- In James Harden’s last game at Staples Center, he shot just 20 percent from outside against the Lakers. He was just 4-for-12 vs the Clippers in the previous Rockets’ game on Figueroa Street.
My Best Bet for Rockets vs Clippers
Clippers +1
Every trend I uncover for this game points to the Clippers having a slight advantage. This promises to be a heavyweight tilt with two of the NBA’s best teams in the second half slugging it out.
For me, the Rockets’ road back-to-back record is concerning, especially considering that there are straight-up losses to Miami, Cleveland and Memphis mixed in there.
Also, the fact that LA has done a good job defending the three while Houston gets 44 percent of its points from outside makes this more comfortable for me.
