Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview
Where: AT&T Center – San Antonio, TX
When: Monday, March 6, 2017, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Houston Rockets (+4) at San Antonio Spurs (-4); total: 220.0 – view all NBA lines
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Betting on the Houston Rockets (44-19)
The Rockets continued establishing their momentum and rhythm back on Saturday night. The 123-108 win over the Grizzlies was their eighth victory in their last 10 games (6-4 ATS), and as always, it had James Harden recording a big stat line – 33 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists, and six threes.
Such performances don’t come easy against the tough Spurs defense, but Harden is one of the rare exceptions. In three encounters this season, he’s able to put up 26.6 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists per game. With Houston currently down in the season series 2-1, a stat-stuffing night from their All-Star is obviously one of the things they need if they plan to even it up.
Aside from Eric Gordon (17 PPG), Ryan Anderson (13.9 PPG), and Trevor Ariza (11.5 PPG), who are, as you may know, all deadly from the outside, we can also expect another quick-trigger offense from the recently-acquired Lou Williams. “Sweet Lou” is doing what he does best in five games with the team, as he is chipping in 17.2 points in just 24.4 minutes of play.
Another guy opponents ought to keep an eye on is Clint Capela. The Swiss has been the Rockets’ main interior defender, and he just powered through Memphis’s strong front court for 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Houston remains as the number one three-point shooting team in the league (14.8 per game) and they are second in points (115.3 PPG), assists (25.5 APG), and offensive efficiency.
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (48-13)
Saturday’s 97-90 OT road win against Minnesota wasn’t the Spurs’ best night offensively, as they only shot 40.4 percent from the field. Kawhi Leonard, who finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and six steals, was also alone for the most part.
Still, a win is a win, and it should feel good that they have now won seven consecutive games.
Leonard has been on a tear for a while now. In his last 21 games, he’s putting up 29.8 points on 50.7 percent shooting, and in that span, he was able to score 30 or more 13 times. With Houston not being one of the best defensive teams in the league (24th in points allowed and 14th in efficiency), “The Claw” should be able to keep his smooth play going.
After letting a win slip through their hands during their first meeting with the Rockets, coach Gregg Poppovich and his boys have learned their lesson. The Spurs have beaten them twice since then, and in both times, they held the high-octane offense to just 100 points, with the most recent also concluding with Harden and company making just six threes and only shooting 38 percent overall.
San Antonio’s 106.5 PPG is just at the decent 11th spot in the league, but they are in the top six in points allowed (98.2 PPG), offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency.
Writer’s Prediction
The Spurs (-4) extend their streak to eight, 106-103.
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