The Los Angeles Clippers (6-18) and Houston Rockets (15-6) meet Thursday at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s NBA odds around the Clippers vs. Rockets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Rockets won 3-1
The Rockets won 3 of 4 meetings last season, although the Clippers won the final installment at home in the Intuit Dome on April 9, 134-117, as a 10.5-point favorite and as the Over (220.5) cashed. The Rockets are 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 7 meetings, while the Over has cashed in 3 in a row.
The Clippers suffered a 109-106 loss in Minnesota last time out Saturday, but L.A. covered as 8-point underdogs as the Under (228) cashed. G James Harden went for 34 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in 39 minutes, while C Ivica Zubac was good for 15 points and 13 rebounds with a block. Los Angeles has dropped 7 of its past 8 outings, going 2-6 ATS in the span. The Under has cashed in 3 in a row, and 5 of the previous 6 contests.
Also on Saturday, the Rockets were dumped 122-109 on the road against the Dallas Mavericks, losing outright as a 6.5-point favorite as the Over (221.5) cashed. F Kevin Durant was good for 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting while F Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 22 points with 8 boards and a block. G Aaron Holiday had 19 points and 3 triples off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the absences of Cs Steven Adams (ankle) and Alperen Sengun (illness). Houston is a still a solid 5-2 ATS in the past 7 games, while the Under holds a 7-2 edge in the past 9 games.
Clippers at Rockets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:45 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Clippers +310 (bet $100 to win $310) | Rockets -400 (bet $400 to win $100)Against the spread: Clippers +9.5 (-118) | Rockets -9.5 (-102)Over/Under (O/U): 220.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Clippers at Rockets key injuries
Clippers
G Bradley Beal (hip) outF Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) out
Rockets
F Tari Eason (oblique) outF Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) outG Fred VanVleet (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Clippers at Rockets picks and predictionsPrediction
Rockets 113, Clippers 106
PASS.
The Rockets (-400) will cost you 4 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward. Even as part of a multi-leg parlay, including Houston makes very little sense, as it severely decreased the value of your betslip including such heavy favorites.
The CLIPPERS +9.5 (-118) should be able to keep it within single digits, although an outright win certainly is not expected. LA has covered 2 of the past 3 games,
The Rockets have won the past 2 home games against Phoenix and Sacramento by an average of 22.5 points per game (PPG), so there is some concern. But this is a team which also lost outright to Dallas last time out. As a favorite of 7.5 or more points, Houston is just 3-3 ATS in the past 6 instances, and it could be a little soft in the middle again if Adams can’t shake off his ankle or if Sengen is still under the weather (though neither appeared on the injury report late Wednesday night).
LA has enough scoring with Harden, and an interior presence with Zubac, to give Houston troubles.
The UNDER 220.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.
The Over has split 2-2 in the past 4 games for Houston, although the Under is 3-0 in the past 3 home games. The total has gone low in 7 of the past 9 outings, too.
For the Clippers, the Under has hit in 3 in a row, and 5 of the past 6 games.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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