NBA Odds Today: Rockets vs Trail Blazers Betting Analysis, Prediction and Pick in a Game that Houston cannot lose

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If the Houston Rockets have any chance of earning a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, they can’t afford a loss Friday at tanking and injury-ravaged Portland – but the Rockets have been terrible on the road all season. They are still solid favorites on the NBA odds.

2024 NBA Expert Analysis Houston vs Portland | MyBookie Sportsbook NBA Week 19

How to Bet Rockets at Trail Blazers NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 10 PM ET
Where: Moda Center
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Rockets -6 (total 219)

Rockets vs Trail Blazers Season Series

This is the second of four regular-season meetings. On Jan. 24, Houston was upset at home by Portland 137-131 in overtime. Anfernee Simons scored 33 points and Jerami Grant added 21 for the Blazers. Portland opened overtime with a 9-2 run to take a 133-126 lead with about two minutes left in the extra session. The Rockets got a free throw from Alperen Sengun and a layup from Fred VanVleet to cut the lead to four points with less than a minute left in OT. But Deandre Ayton tipped in a shot with 10 seconds remaining to give Portland a 135-129 lead, and the Trail Blazers held on for the win. Sengun had 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the loss. Since sweeping Portland 4-0 in 2017-18, Houston hasn’t won any of the past five season series and has dropped four straight in the series.

Why Bet on Houston Rockets?

The Rockets were up big early on the visiting LA Clippers on Wednesday but couldn’t hold it in a 122-116 loss. The Clippers trailed by as many as 20 points and didn’t lead in the second half until there were less than three minutes remaining. Jabari Smith Jr.’s 3-pointer got the Rockets within 2 with less than two minutes to go. Norman Powell made one of two free throws for the Clippers before Alperen Sengun missed two free throws with just over a minute remaining to leave Houston down 115-112.

Fred VanVleet got a technical with 48 seconds left arguing about a foul called on Sengun on a shot attempt by George. He made all three free throws to extend the lead to 118-112 and that was that.

“In the first half it was like we were running in mud,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We couldn’t keep up with them. They got out in transition and we just couldn’t get back and get matched. So at halftime we made a strong point about that.”

Sengun was great with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 14 assists — Sengun handed out a season-high assist total while hauling in a season-best rebound mark in his second triple-double of the year and fourth career. He is averaging 29.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game over his last three games. On the season, Sengun is one of six players averaging at least 21.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 5.0 apg this season, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle.

Smith took the court Wednesday despite entering the contest questionable due to illness for Houston and had 19 points. Smith matched a season-high total in threes made with four, a feat he has now accomplished six times. Smith has recorded at least 19 points in 12 outings, including in four of his last 10 contests. Rookie Cam Whitmore had 17 points off the bench and has recorded at least 15 points in 12 games this year.

With Tari Eason out for the rest of the season, Whitmore has been the team’s sixth man. He played 24 minutes off the bench Wednesday, and Amen Thompson (18) was the only other reserve that played more than six minutes. Whitmore is averaging 12.1 ppg in 17.6 mpg this season; in NBA history, Freeman Williams (1981-82) is the only player to have averaged at least 12.0 ppg while playing fewer than 18.0 mpg in a season.

The Rockets are 24-9 in games in which they have led by 10+ points this season (15-10 in 2022-23) and have 14 wins by double-digits (6 in 2022-23), including 7 by 20+ (2 in 2022-23). Houston has scored a total of 5 fewer points than opponents this season. The Rockets ranked 28th in points differential in 2022-22 at -7.9 ppg.

Houston is 22-4 when leading after three quarters of play this season (15-12 in 2022-23) and 5-31 when tied or trailing (7-48 in 2022-23). The Rockets are 8-10 in games decided by five or fewer points this season (9-8 in 2022-23), including 6-4 by three or fewer (5-4 in 2022-23).

Bet Rockets to Win
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Why Bet on Portland Trail Blazers?

Portland lost a second straight game Wednesday, 128-120 at home to Oklahoma City. The Blazers closed the OKC lead to 112-107 on Anfernee Simons’ layup before Matisse Thybulle’s 3-pointer got the Blazers within two with 4:05 left. However, the Thunder’s Jaylin Williams ended the threat with a 3-pointer that made it 116-110.

“Give them a lot of credit, I thought they really fought tonight — which they’ve been doing lately, they’ve got the fifth-best defense in the league in the last 10 games and their competitiveness and physicality definitely showed tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Portland “It was a good test for us.”

Simons led the way with 29 points. Simons has been on a tear over their last three games and is averaging 31.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 4.7 triples during this short stretch. His field goal percentage has been poor this season (43%), but he has shot at least 50% in his last two games. Wednesday was Simons’ 51st career game with at least five made three-pointers, ranking third in Trail Blazers history.

The Blazers saw the return of Jerami Grant (right quad) and Thybulle (left hip), who both missed Monday. Center Deandre Ayton (sprained right wrist) and Toumani Camara (illness) were ruled out before the game. Ayton has missed four games in a row. He is currently averaging 14.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 57.0% from the field in 40 games.

Camara is one of two rookies this season who have recorded at least 350 points, 240 rebounds, 50 steals and 35 3PM (Victor Wembanyama). Among rookies drafted in the second round, he ranks first in several offensive and defensive categories. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said fellow rookie Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was making progress from a left foot sprain and could return by the weekend.

Portland ranks tied for second in the NBA this season in opponent turnovers per game (15.0), third in deflections per game (15.7) and fifth in total deflections (957).

On Friday, the team looks to snap an eight-game home losing streak. Simons has recorded 30-plus points in his last three games against Houston.

Bet Portland to Win
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Rockets vs Trail Blazers Expert Prediction

Rockets 115, Blazers 112

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