With 18 straight losses, the Houston Rockets already have the longest losing streak in franchise history. If at all possible, they’d like to avoid making broader history, and Friday’s home game versus the struggling Detroit Pistons could offer an opportunity to accomplish that.
The Rockets (11-28) are currently just two losses away from hitting 20, which would put them among the 10 worst skids in NBA history. But the Pistons (11-29) happen to be one of only two teams with a worse record this season, which should make it a friendlier matchup than most. As a result, even with the losing streak, Houston is a slight favorite.
As head coach Stephen Silas sees it, the most encouraging sign is health. Christian Wood and Danuel House Jr. returned to Houston’s lineup on Wednesday, while John Wall (left knee contusion) was upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game and appears likely to play in his first game since the All-Star break. If Wall starts, it will be the first game for the Rockets with their desired starting lineup in over six weeks.
The Rockets will also benefit from the availability of backcourt mate Victor Oladipo, who missed Wednesday’s loss to Golden State due to planned maintenance on the second game of a back-to-back.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Rockets -2.0 (-110), Pistons +2.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rockets -135/Pistons +110
- Over-under: 214.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: Jerami Grant 23.5 (-105 O, -120 U), Saddiq Bey 13.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Delon Wright 11.5 (-125 O, +100 U), Mason Plumlee 10.5 (-130 O, +100 U); Houston TBD
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Friday’s probable starters for Detroit are Frank Jackson, Delon Wright, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, and Mason Plumlee. If Wall plays, Houston will have Wall, Oladipo, House, Wood, and Jae’Sean Tate.
Beyond Wall, the Rockets do still have a handful of impactful injuries. Eric Gordon (right groin strain), David Nwaba (right wrist sprain) and Dante Exum (right calf strain) are all out, while Ben McLemore (left ankle sprain) is questionable. But for a team that hasn’t had its expected starting lineup in over six weeks while being reduced to the minimum of eight active players on some nights, that list is much more reasonable.
Detroit is dealing with its own wave of injuries, with Hamidou Diallo, Wayne Ellington, Killian Hayes, Rodney McGruder, and Jahlil Okafor all listed as out due to various conditions. The Pistons do enter with some momentum, having secured a surprising 116-112 victory (box score) over Toronto on Wednesday night. Rookie Saddiq Bey led the way with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Jerami Grant added 23 points.
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Advice and prediction
In January, the Rockets defeated the Pistons by just a point in Detroit (recap), with Grant drawing what would have been a foul (and potential game-winning free throws) only a split-second after time had run out.
Christian Wood, however, missed that earlier Rockets-Pistons clash due to injury. Thus, Friday will be Wood’s first chance to play his former team since leaving Detroit for Houston in the 2020 offseason.
Though Wood had limited minutes in his return Wednesday, he was still very effective with 21 points (66.7% FG) and 9 rebounds in 26 minutes. It should be a prime opportunity for Wood to get some revenge against a team that seemingly didn’t make much of an effort to retain him.
Prediction: 110-106, Rockets
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