The LA Clippers will look to capitalize on the struggles of the Houston Rockets, when they welcome Christian Wood and company to Hollywood this Friday. But are the Clippers in for a surprise from Houston? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Houston Rockets vs LA Clippers NBA Regular Season Game on April 9, 2021
Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
When: Friday, April 9, 2021, 10:00 PM ET
Line: Houston Rockets (Odds) vs. LA Clippers (Odds) – view all 2020-21 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: PRIME
Betting on the Houston Rockets (odds)
Regular Season Record: 13-37
The Rockets have a date with the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center this Wednesday, but after that, Houston will be off to a three-game road trip beginning with Friday’s matchup against the Clippers. There aren’t a lot of things going in favor of Houston right now. The Rockets are dealing with injuries to key players and low morale due to all the losing, but as shown in the loss to the Phoenix Suns133-30) last Monday, this Rockets can still bite. Christian Wood is healthy again, and as one of the better bigs in the league today, he should be able to keep up with the Clippers’ frontcourt that may not have Serge Ibaka. The Rockets also have Kevin Porter Jr., who’s relishing the taste of his new home in Houston. Porter is averaging 15.6 points and 6.1 assists with the Rockets this season.
The Rockets are 3-2 against the spread in their last five road games.
Betting on the LA Clippers (odds)
Regular Season Record: 34-18
The Clippers will head into their game against the Suns this Thursday on the heels of back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Lakers (104-86) and the Portland Trail Blazers (133-116) last Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. The Clippers are having fun again with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both healthy. George paced the Clippers with 36 points against the Blazers, while Leonard added 209 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Clippers also got a boost off the bench from new big DeMarcus Cousins, who had 7 points in 8 minutes in his debut for the Clippers. An ex-Rocket, Cousins can help Ivica Zubac down low against Houston. Reggie Jackson also had a good game against the Suns, scoring 23 points for LA’s bench. The Clippers are better stacked in the first five and have a deeper bench than Houston which would likely miss the services of John Wall again. The Clippers are on a roll and healthy. They’d be more than a handful for the slumping Rockets.
The Clippers beat Houston in the last meeting between these two teams (120-105 at HOU) and covered the spread as 1-point road underdogs.
Writer’s Prediction
The Clippers win, 125-110.
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