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The Houston Rockets might be the worst team in the NBA, but they could have a shot at upsetting the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night in a national TV game if Suns star Deandre Ayton doesn’t play – and he might not. His status will affect the NBA odds.

How to Bet Houston at Phoenix NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 10 PM ET
Where: Footprint Center
TV: NBA TV
Stream: NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: TBA (depends on Ayton)

Last Meeting

It’s the first meeting this year. They most recently played on April 12 and Phoenix won 126-120 at home. Jae Crowder scored 26 points, Devin Booker added 24 and the Phoenix Suns tied an NBA record with 18 3-pointers in the first half. The Suns finished with a franchise-record 25 3-pointers and the Rockets added 17. The combined total of 42 3s was one shy of an NBA record. Houston pulled within 114-109 with 5:45 remaining but Phoenix responded with the next six points. Christian Wood led the Rockets with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Kevin Porter Jr. added 22 points.

Phoenix leads the all-time series 111-108 and is 66-44 at home.

Why Bet on Houston?

Houston (1-6) lost its fourth in a row Tuesday, 119-117 at the Lakers. Rookie Jalen Green hit 9-of-15 shots and five 3-pointers for 24 points, two rebounds, five assists and seven turnovers. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft scoreless in the second half until he hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute, slicing the Lakers’ lead to one point with 8.2 seconds left. Malik Monk then made just one of two free throws for the Lakers, but Kevin Porter missed a step-back 3 for Houston to end it. Since 2000-01, Green has joined LeBron James as the only rookies to have recorded at least 102 points, 26 rebounds, 23 assists, 6 steals and 4 blocks through the first seven games of a season.

Porter Jr. hit 5-of-14 shots and a 3-pointer for 11 points, five rebounds, eight assists, four steals and five turnovers. Wood finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds in his best performance of the season. He is the third player in NBA history (Kevin Love in 2013-14, DeMarcus Cousins in 2017-18) with at least 141 points, 85 rebounds, 14 assists and 16 3FGM through the first seven games of a season.

Jae’Sean Tate hit 9-of-15 shots for a season-high 20 points. Tate was questionable with an ankle injury. In his first career start, Alperen Sengun had six points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal in 26 minutes. Sengun shifted into the starting lineup after Daniel Theis was ruled out due to a foot concern. Dating to 1983-84, he is the fourth rookie to have recorded at least 60 points, 31 rebounds, 15 assists, 16 steals and 3 blocks through the first seven games of a season.

Guard Eric Gordon didn’t play Tuesday due to nausea and but is expected to Thursday. He’s shooting 55.6% from 3-point range this season after shooting 32.2% over the past two seasons.

Houston is 0-4 on the road this season. The Rockets were 8-28 on the road in 2020-21 after having the second-most road wins of any team over the previous four seasons.

Why Bet on Phoenix?

The Suns rallied for a 112-100 win over New Orleans on Tuesday playing without star center Deandre Ayton. The Pelicans led by as many as 20 points in the first half, but that advantage was cut to 65-62 by midway through the third quarter. New Orleans took an 82-76 lead into the final quarter but Phoenix dominated in the fourth.

Chris Paul hit 6-of-8 shots for 14 points, a season-high seven rebounds and a season-high 18 assists. Paul is now third in NBA history with 10,346 career assists, passing both Mark Jackson and Steve Nash. The point guard scored all of his points in the second half and dished 10 assists. CP3 has hit double digits in assists in all but one game this season and has hit double digits in scoring in four of his six games.

Less than two weeks ago, the 11-time All-Star became the first player in NBA history to score at least 20,000 points and dish out 10,000 assists. Now Paul trails only Jason Kidd (12,091) and John Stockton (15,806) on the assists list.

JaVale McGee started for Ayton and played just 19 minutes but hit 7-of-10 shots for 19 points, five rebounds and a block. Ayton (right leg contusion) was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. If he sits, it likely means another start for JaVale McGee with Frank Kaminsky backing him up. Kaminsky finished Tuesday’s win with 17 points, three rebounds, four steals and a block.

Backup point guard Cameron Payne (right hamstring) was limited to court work at Wednesday’s practice. Payne still hasn’t gone through full-contact, 5-on-5 work, so he’s not likely to play Thursday.

Against Houston, the Suns have won four straight after losing a series-worst 13 in a row prior from 12/21/16-12/21/19. Phoenix is looking to win five straight for the first time since a series-high tying seven-game span from 4/1/09-3/8/11. The Rockets have lost two in a row in Phoenix after winning a series-best 11 straight prior from 2/23/14-12/21/19.

Game Trends

Rockets are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.
Rockets are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog.
Suns are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games.
Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.