The Houston Rockets had their 14-game winning streak come to a shocking halt against the rebuilding Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night! Now, the big question for NBA bettors concerning the Rockets heading into their Friday night matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers is whether Houston can bounce back to cover the sizable NBA spread without future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul.
Let’s find out now which team offers the best NBA betting value when these two teams hook up at the Toyota Center at 8:00 PM ET with this contest airing live on ESPN.
Paul, a nine-time All-Star who pushed to be traded from the Clippers to Houston over the summer, has averaged 17.1 points, 9.0 assists and 2.1 steals in 16 games for the Rockets.
Houston lost for the first time since Nov. 14, while the Lakers snapped a three-game skid.
“We didn’t play defense at all today,” Houston’s Trevor Ariza said. “They got whatever they wanted and when that happens, you lose.”
Can Rockets Cover Big NBA Spread Against Clippers Without CP3?
🗣 Postgame Sound: “…we have a lot of guys out still, but we feel like we still have a really talented team…” – @Dekker
📝https://t.co/7Kn5wAUi4N 🎥 https://t.co/fgSil52tSF pic.twitter.com/BymR3Ot6zi — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) 21 de diciembre de 2017
- When: Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Toyota Center. Houston, TX
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 1570 AM (Los Angeles) / 610 AM (Houston)
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Spread: Houston Rockets -11.5 (Over/Under at 219)
Team Records
- All: Los Angeles Clippers 12-18 / Houston Rockets 25-5
- Home: Los Angeles Clippers 7-7 / Houston Rockets 13-4
- Away: Los Angeles Clippers 5-11 / Houston Rockets 12-1
- As Favorite: Los Angeles Clippers 9-6/ Houston Rockets 24-4
- As Underdog: Los Angeles Clippers 3-12/ Houston Rockets 1-1
- ATS: Los Angeles Clippers 15-15 / Houston Rockets 16-13-1
- Over/Under: Los Angeles Clippers 13-16-1 / Houston Rockets 16-14
Updated NBA Championship Odds – December 20th Edition
Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)
- Record: Houston Rockets lead 7-3
- Score: Los Angeles Clippers 111.80 / Houston Rockets 116.80
- Field Goal Percentage: Los Angeles Clippers 46.64 / Houston Rockets 46.43
- Rebounds: Los Angeles Clippers 49.90 / Houston Rockets 40.40
- 3 Point Shots: Los Angeles Clippers 112-335 / Houston Rockets 107-313
- Steals: Los Angeles Clippers 7.10 / Houston Rockets 8.60
Why should the L.A. Clippers be your NBA Betting Pick?
Why bet on the Clippers in this Friday night affair? Well, because they’re playing decent basketball lately and picked up a confidence-boosting win the last time out. Los Angeles has gone 4-3 over their last seven games and beat the Phoenix Suns 108-95 on Wednesday night to cash in as a 5.5-point home favorite. The Clippers placed six players in double figures in scoring and got a team-high 21 points from Austin Rivers while also getting 12 points and 20 rebounds from all-star center DeAndre Jordan. Veteran Lou Williams chipped in 18 points off the bench. “We’ve got to stay in this until we get our guys back,” Rivers said. “Whoever is on the floor, let’s just attack.” The Clippers’ lineup included rookies C.J. Williams and Jamil Williamson. Williams had 12 points and Wilson scored 11. “C.J. is solid,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Jamil can shoot the ball and he’s learning everything else on the fly.”Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 103.47
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.79
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.99
- Free Throw Percentage: 74.04
- Total Rebounds: 43.77
- Total Score: 105.63
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.67
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.19
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.09
- Total Rebounds: 43.33
Why should the Houston Rockets your NBA Betting Pick?
Why bet on Houston in this contest? Well, because they’re the better team and have far more talent on their roster than the Clippers. Chris Paul will miss this affair with a sore left adductor. The injury caused Paul to leave early in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s 122-116 loss to the Lakers which snapped Houston’s 14-game winning streak. It was the first loss in a Rockets uniform for Paul, who missed a month due to a left knee contusion after playing in the Rockets’ season-opening victory over the Warriors.
Paul, a nine-time All-Star who pushed to be traded from the Clippers to Houston over the summer, has averaged 17.1 points, 9.0 assists and 2.1 steals in 16 games for the Rockets.
Houston lost for the first time since Nov. 14, while the Lakers snapped a three-game skid.
“We didn’t play defense at all today,” Houston’s Trevor Ariza said. “They got whatever they wanted and when that happens, you lose.”
Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 115.30
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.92
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.96
- Free Throw Percentage: 79.74
- Total Rebounds: 44.30
- Total Score: 104.60
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.13
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.16
- Free Throw Percentage: 74.52
- Total Rebounds: 40.73
Latest NBA Betting Trends
- Rockets are 2-3-1 ATS in their last 6 games
- Rockets are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston’s last 7 games
- Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games
- Clippers are 6-16 SU in their last 22 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Clippers’s last 5 games
