A heavyweight showdown between two title contenders is on tap this Saturday at the Quicken Loans Arena, where James Harden’s Houston Rockets will take on LeBron James and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this season. Go ahead and read our preview of this can’t-miss matchup.
Betting Preview for the Houston Rockets vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Regular Season Game on February 3 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena
When: Saturday, February 3 8:30 PM EST
Line: Houston Rockets (n/a) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (n/a) – view current NBA betting lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Betting on the Houston Rockets (37-13)
We can all agree that James Harden has officially gone insane. After becoming the first player to record a 60-point triple-double in a114-107 win over the Orlando Magic at home on Tuesday, Harden followed it up with yet another sterling performance, scoring 28 points with five three-pointers and 11 assists during a 102-91 dismantling of the San Antonio Spurs on the road on Thursday. What comes next is an opportunity to slice through the Cavaliers’ pathetic defense that he had already dropped a triple-double this season. Harden (31.5 PPG, 9.1 APG, 5.0 RPG) had 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists on Nov. 9, when the Rockets shot down Cleveland at home, 117-113. The Rockets could be missing a pair of key players this Saturday, though, as Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza were not able to play versus the Spurs due to injuries. That said, Chris Paul is going to be in the lineup. Paul (19.1 PPG, 8.4 APG, 5.6 RPG) was still sidelined when the Rockets beat the Cavs earlier this season.
The Rockets are 3-0 ATS in their last three road games.
Betting on the Cleveland Cavaliers (30-20)
The Cavaliers are starting to win games again, though their defense continues to show characteristics of a wet paper bag. Granted that they allowed just 89 points to the Miami Heat in a win on Wednesday, the Cavs still have allowed 108.0 points in their last five games. The Rockets’ offense is no joke, as it is second in the league in scoring (113.8 PPG), so the Cavs will have to do better than show up with their stick-and-stones defense again. With Kevin Love out for several weeks with a hand injury, LeBron James will have added burden to deliver on both ends of the floor. The four-time MVP is averaging 26.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game this season. Isaiah Thomas also has a shot at showing some glimpse of his old Boston Celtics form, as he is going to get increased scoring responsibilities now that Love, the Cavs’ second-leading scorer is not able to suit up. Thomas is putting up 15.4 points per game to go with 4.2 assists for Cleveland’s offense that rakes in 19.6 points per contest. In the first meeting with the Rockets, James scored 33 points and had seven assists, though he had eight turnovers. If Ariza can’t go for the Rockets, James will have one Rockets’ defender to worry about. Cleveland is 5-5 ATS in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston beats the Cavs, 115-111.
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