The Houston Rockets head to the Hive to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
Houston heads to this game having lost three straight games and just 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played. The Rockets are 10-23 on the season and in the bottom of the Western Conference, 17 games behind the conference leaders Golden State Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak before Christmas by defeating the Denver Nuggets 115-107 as +2 point underdogs. The Hornets are just 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played and they have the 3rd best record in the Southeast Division at 17-17. Charlotte is also ranked 8th in the East and is just one-half game behind the 6th seeded Sixers.
In their last game, a 118-106 loss to the Pacers last December 23rd, Christian Wood led the team with 22 points and 8 rebounds while the returning Jalen Green had 20 points and two assists. Meanwhile, veteran guard Eric Gordon contributed 15 points, 5 assists, and three steals in a losing effort.
The Houston Rockets rank 19th in scoring at 106.8 points per game this season. Houston is 26th in rebounding at only 43.3 boards grabbed per contest and is just 17th in passing at 23.2 assists per game. Houston is tied for 28th in scoring defense at 114.0 points per game allowed.
Charlotte upset the Denver Nuggets 115-107 in their last outing. Kelly Oubre Jr. had another big night with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals while LaMelo Ball added 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and four steals. Terry Rozier also had a big game with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the Hornets.
The Hornets are the second-highest scoring team in the league at 114.9 points per game scored this season. However, Charlotte also has the worst scoring defense in the league at 116.8 points per game allowed. They are 23rd in rebounds at 43.8 boards grabbed per contest and 3rd in passing at 26.6 dimes per contest.
Houston is 1-5 SU in their last six games played. The Rockets are 3-16 SU in 19 road games played this season but 4-2 SU in their last six games against an opponent from the Southeast Division.
Charlotte is 4-9 SU in their last 13 games played. The Hornets are 8-4 SU in 12 home games played this season, but just 6-14 SU in their last 20 December games, and 1-7 SU in their last eight Monday games.
Head to head, the Rockets have won seven out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
The Rockets have done a good job after a terrible start. However, they head to this game having lost their last three games and four out of their last five on the road. Houston has struggled to score away from the Toyota Center, averaging fewer than 105 points per game while making only 44% of their shots.
Houston is also the most turnover-prone team in the NBA at 16.5 turnovers per game. Meanwhile, the Hornets are 8th in the league at 14.5 turnovers forced per game and have averaged 10 steals per game in their last three games played.
The Hornets are also coming off a big win over Denver in their last game and should carry some momentum heading home.
Prediction: Charlotte Hornets
Houston is 1-5 ATS in their last six games played. The Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last six games against the Eastern Conference, 7-16 ATS in their last 23 Monday games, 16-41 ATS in their last 57 games after a straight-up loss of more than 10 points, 1-4 ATS in their last five games when their opponent allows 100 or more points in their previous game, 1-4 in their last five road games, 0-4 ATS in their last four games against an opponent with a winning record.
Charlotte is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games played. The Hornets are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games played, 37-13-1 ATS in their last 51 games against an opponent with a winning percentage below .400, 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after an ATS win, 7-3 ATS after scoring 100 or more points in their previous game, and 5-1 ATS in their last six games at home against an opponent with a road winning percentage of lower than .400.
The Rockets just got Jalen Green back and are expected to get Porter Jr. back in this contest. However, the absences have hurt the Rockets’ chemistry and although this is a group that has played together before, they have to adjust once again to their returning stars.
Houston has conceded at least 118 points in each of their last three games, all losses, and have done so in six out of their last 10. With the Rockets having a hard time slowing down their opponents, they are going to struggle against the Hornets who are the second-highest scoring team in the NBA.
Look for the Hornets’ explosive offense to help them cover the spread.
Prediction: Hornets -6
The total has gone over in each of the last five games played by the Rockets. Houston has seen the total go over in seven out of their last eight road games. The over is also 6-0 in their last six games after an ATS loss, 7-0 in their last seven games after a straight-up defeat, 4-0 in their last four games after scoring 100 or more points in their previous game, 11-1 in their last 12 games when their opponent allows more than 100 points in their previous game, and 16-5 in their last 21 road games against an opponent with a winning home record.
The total has gone over in 10 out of Charlotte’s last 14 games played with one push. The over is 4-0-1 in the Hornets’ last five home games, 7-1 in their last eight games against an opponent with a winning percentage below .400, 4-1 in their last five games after a straight-up win, 9-3-1 in their last 13 games after allowing 100 or more points in their previous game, 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games after an ATS win, and 4-1 in their last five home games against an opponent with a losing road record.
The Rockets play at the league’s 4th fastest pace and it’s not a surprise why the over is 18-15 overall in their 33 games played this season.
Meanwhile, the Hornets are the second-highest scoring team in the league and have the worst scoring defense in the NBA. It’s also no surprise why the over is 20-13-1 in Charlotte’s 34 games played this season.
These teams have combined to score an average of 240.33 points per game in their last three meetings including a massive 289 points in their first meeting of the season last November 27th.
No question, this will be a game where defense isn’t an emphasis as both teams will try to outgun each other.
Prediction: Over 233.5
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