Whenever the Raptors and the Rockets square off, recent history says the OVER is likely in play. With Toronto now fully healthy again, and Houston firing on all cylinders behind the incredible play of James Harden, there’s no reason to believe a high-scoring game won’t happen again.
- Date/Time: December 5, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Scotiabank Arena
- TV Coverage: TSN 4, AT&T Sportsnet - Southwest
- Sportsbook Odds: Houston -1 | O/U 230
- Rockets vs Raptors Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Rockets curiously opened as 1-point road favorites, despite the fact that they’re 5-5 on the road, have lost four of their past six games, and the Raptors are 9-1 at home. Bettors quickly took advantage of that, and the line swung to Toronto as a 2-point home favorite. The total opened at 230 points, which is high for recent Raptor games but factors in Houston’s offense, which is the highest-scoring in the league.
Houston News & Notes
The Rockets may be in a slump, as their 135-133 double-overtime loss to San Antonio on Tuesday was their fourth defeat in their last six games, but it’s appearing that James Harden is actually slump-proof.
Harden shot just 11-for-38 (28.9 percent) from the field on Tuesday but still scored 50 points (despite having two points taken away due to an egregious call on a dunk that did not count) thanks to a perfect 24-for-24 night from the free-throw line. The former MVP has now scored 110 points in his last two games and is averaging an absolutely ridiculous 39.5 points per game on the season.
Tuesday’s loss also marked Houston’s third straight defeat on the road. Playing in Toronto on Thursday, where the Raptors are 41-10 since the start of last season, against one of the NBA’s premier defensive clubs means the Rockets will have to work hard to not make it four road losses in a row.
Toronto News & Notes
The Raptors saw their seven-game win streak snapped Tuesday with a 121-110 overtime loss to the Miami Heat. It was their first home defeat this season, but despite the setback, the defending NBA champs are off to a strong start with a 15-5 record.
The Raptors have been getting it done with a ferocious defense that makes opponents truly work for their points – the Raps not only have a top-10 scoring defense but also allow the lowest opponent field-goal percentage in the league.
Toronto has also been a strong offensive club, led by Pascal Siakam’s blossoming into stardom with 25.1 points per game. The scary part is the Raptors are just now getting fully healthy. Serge Ibaka returned two games ago following an ankle injury while starting point guard Kyle Lowry returned Tuesday from a broken thumb.
Getting Ibaka and Lowry back should only make the Raptors more lethal. So on Thursday against Houston, in a matchup that has played to the OVER six of the last eight times, another high-scoring game is likely in store.
Betting Pick: OVER 230.5
The Raptors are healthy, James Harden is unstoppable and these teams have a history of high-scoring games. I’ll take the OVER.
- The UNDER has hit in 7 of Houston’s last 9 road games.
- Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games vs the East.
- Toronto is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 home games vs Houston.
