The Houston Rockets are the hottest team in the NBA at the moment, but a trip to Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena could lull them into a false sense of security against the dangerous Kings.
Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
[sc:NBA240banner ]When: Tuesday, February 25th, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
Line: Rockets (–4) at Kings (+4); total: 213
Betting on the Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets sure love February. They’ve lost just once in eight games this month, and are 9-1 SU/7-3 ATS in their last ten. Their stop in Sacramento tonight will be the penultimate game of a five-game road trip. They’re 8-2 SU in their last ten road games.
The Rockets’ offense has taken off since the end of January, as they’ve scored over 100 points in eight of those ten contests. Not coincidentally, this explosion has been fueled by the great play of All-Stars James Harden and Dwight Howard. Harden has put up a scintillating 27.3 PPG in February, while Howard is averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds with 3 blocks.
Harden in particular is a good bet to continue his great run in Sacramento. He averaged 29 PPG in the first three meetings vs. the Kings this year.
Betting on the Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings’ trio of Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas know all about scoring. All three are averaging over 20 PPG this year, and they have combined to score 92 of the Kings’ 109 wins in their most recent win against the Nuggets. Cousins has been dealing with a hip injury recently, but his 27 points and 5 blocks in Denver suggest his hip is feeling better.
That win was Sacramento’s third in four games, its best stretch since winning four of five in early January. Gay and Thomas also scored over 20 points each in the Kings’ other victories over Boston and New York.
The Kings claimed the first two meetings of the season series over Houston. The Rockets won the latest meeting in January, but both Gay and Cousins left that game with injuries.
Picking a winner
The Rockets may be the 9-1 SU in their last 10 games, but three of those games were within 3 points and easily could’ve gone the other way. The Houston defense is also very susceptible to giving up points – they’ve allowed over 100 points in four straight games.
If it weren’t for the injuries to Gay and Cousins in the previous meeting, Sacramento would probably be going for a sweep tonight. The Kings are at home and have the offense to keep up with the Rockets, so at +4 Sacramento offers a lot of value to bettors looking to get involved in what could be a shootout.
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