Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Clippers – Preview & Prediction: In the NBA, Houston Rockets will host Los Angeles Clippers.
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Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Clippers Preview
The Houston Rockets have big ambitions this season. That was clear already with the signing of Kevin Durant over the summer, which immediately positioned them as one of the contenders for the title this season. However, the injury to Fred VanVleet has certainly disrupted their initial plans, and it’s clear to everyone how much his absence is felt within the team. Even so, the Houston Rockets can be extremely satisfied with their results so far. They are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference with 15 wins and six losses, but also two fewer games played than the second- and third-placed teams, who have two more wins. In those six losses, they had games in which they were mostly underdogs and faced stronger opponents in better form at that moment, so aside from the games against the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks, they don’t have much to regret.
Ahead of this game, the team is in relatively good form. In their last seven games, they have five wins and two losses, with those losses coming precisely against the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks. The loss to the Texas team came right before this game, where they were defeated 122–109. It’s clear that the Houston Rockets entered that matchup as big favorites, but based on their performance in the first half, it was obvious that it wouldn’t be an easy task. After 24 minutes, the scoreboard showed 57–57, and then in the third quarter came a huge drop from the Rockets. They scored only 20 points compared to the 37 scored by the Mavericks, and at that point the winner was almost decided. The visiting team tried to come back in the final quarter, but without success. Kevin Durant was the most efficient for his team with 27 points, while Jabari Smith added 22 and eight rebounds.
A season to forget so far for the Los Angeles Clippers. Much was expected from them this year, with the belief that they would once again be highly competitive, but instead a major disappointment followed. To be fair, the start of the season wasn’t that bad. In their first five games, they recorded three wins and two losses—against the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors, where they scored only 79 points. From that moment on, their huge decline began. They snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over the Dallas Mavericks after overtime, but that didn’t help much. From that win until now, they have recorded only two victories in 12 games played. At this moment, they are tied for second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference together with the Sacramento Kings, with a record of six wins and 18 losses.
In their last three games, the Los Angeles Clippers have one win, on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. After that, they suffered two losses, also away from home. First they were beaten by the Memphis Grizzlies, and in the game right before this one, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated them 109–106. It is clear that the visiting team entered this matchup as an underdog, but in the first quarter they played excellently by their standards. They scored 34 points compared to the home team’s 22 in the opening period, and went into halftime with a 14-point lead. However, in the second half they played very poorly on both ends. This especially applies to the defense, where they allowed 67 points compared to just 42 in the first 24 minutes. All of this resulted in a comeback by the Minnesota Timberwolves, which Jaden McDaniels sealed from the free-throw line. Not even another great performance by James Harden helped, as he scored 34 points with six assists. Alongside him, Kawhi Leonard stood out with 20 points
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Clippers H2H
The Houston Rockets won three of the four head-to-head meetings last season.
Injuries and Suspensions
Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Fred VanVleet will not play for the home team. Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams are questionable. On the other side, Bradley Beal, Derrick Jones, and Chris Paul are out, while Jordan Miller is listed as questionable.
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Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Clippers Best Betting Tip and Prediction
The Houston Rockets have a great opportunity to get back on the winning track in front of their home fans. They certainly have huge motivation to show a reaction after a tough loss in which they were favorites against the Dallas Mavericks. They are facing a team that fits them perfectly in terms of style, and it is expected that from the very first moment they will impose the pace that suits them. Accordingly, our pick is a home win with the hosts covering the offered handicap.
Tip-off Time: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EST, December 11th
Prediction: Houston Rockets -7.5
Odds: 1.75
Stake: 1 Unit
Sportsbook: BetNow
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