The Houston Rockets are the highest scoring team in the league, but they may be without their top offensive player against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night.
Let’s take a closer look at the NBA odds for this Western Conference
affair from a betting perspective, with the opening tip scheduled for 10:30
p.m. ET at the Staples Center on NBATV.
Trending over
Houston went OVER the total for a fifth consecutive game
Tuesday, as it captured a 116-107 victory over the Golden State Warriors as
four-point road underdogs. The Rockets
have scored 100-plus points in their last 10 games.
The franchise now leads the NBA in averaging 106.3 points
per game, which is just ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder (106.2).
Splitting the Grammys
Los Angeles returns home after compiling an even 4-4
record on its Grammy road trip, which includes back-to-back wins over the
Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks to close things out. The Clippers are 5-13 against the spread
(ATS) in their last 18 home games following a road trip of seven or more days.
Hard(en) times
The Rockets are going to have a hard time covering any
number as a road underdog if guard James Harden is unable to go in this affair,
as he came into last night’s game averaging a team-high 26.1 points per game.
Harden has been dealing with a sore left knee the past
week, while he also injured his right ankle versus the Warriors. The former Arizona State Sun Devils star has
averaged 32.0 points on 54.1 percent shooting in his last four games.
Paul is back
Chris Paul has gotten the Clippers’ offense back on track
in the last two games, while he’s managed to score 46 points and dish out 18
assists over that span. Paul has tallied
a point-assist double-double in 12 of his last 18 games in this series, while
he’ll be the starting point guard for the Western Conference in this week’s NBA
All-Star Game.
Under situation
NBA handicappers may have a hard time playing the total
in this affair when a number is released in the market, considering the Rockets
have gone above the number in five of six games this month. Houston’s recent scoring surge may provide
some value, with the UNDER going 6-1 in the last seven meetings in this series
when played in Southern California.
Prediction
I’m going to recommend that readers look in the direction
of the total when making their NBA picks Wednesday night, as the
UNDER is 4-0 in the Clippers last four home games following a road trip of
seven or more days.
NBA Pick: Under