With the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season nearly complete, the rebuilding Houston Rockets would like to see some of their key young building blocks at least one more time before breaking for the offseason.
While veterans Eric Gordon and Sterling Brown are out for the season, head coach Stephen Silas has left the door open for Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., and Danuel House Jr. to return. All three have missed numerous games in recent weeks after suffering ankle sprains. However, all three are listed as out for Friday’s home finale versus the Los Angeles Clippers, leaving Sunday’s game at Atlanta as the last chance.
As owners of the league’s worst record, the Rockets will be big underdogs in both games, considering that the Clippers and Hawks are headed to the playoffs. Nonetheless, Houston nearly knocked off the defending champion Lakers on Wednesday, and they would love a feel-good victory before their season ends — particularly if it’s led by players within their “young core” of KJ Martin, Jae’Sean Tate, Wood, and Porter.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Clippers -10.5
- Money line: Clippers -550 / Rockets +400
- Over-under: 225.5
- Player scoring props: TBD
Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.
The Clippers (47-23) will not issue an injury report until midday Friday, since they played on Thursday in Charlotte. In that game, they were relatively healthy, listing only Serge Ibaka (out, lower back tightness) and Amir Coffey (out, health and safety protocols) on their report.
It’s possible that Los Angeles head coach Tyronn Lue could opt to rest some of his regulars, since it’s the second night of a road back-to-back and the playoffs are only about a week away. However, the Clippers are in a tight battle in the Western Conference standings with No. 2 Phoenix (4921) and No. 4 Denver (46-24), so it’s also plausible that they could aggressively pursue the highest postseason seed available.
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Houston’s injury report for Friday lists 10 of the team’s 16 players under standard contracts as out: Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (head/face lacerations), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), Danuel House Jr. (right ankle), David Nwaba (right wrist) and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols).
The Rockets have two additional players (Cameron Oliver and Khyri Thomas) on hardship exception deals, which assures them of meeting the NBA’s minimum threshold of eight active players. It’s a fitting way for Houston’s injury plagued 2020-21 season to wind down.
Advice and prediction
Based on the each team’s previous game, the starting lineups for Friday could be Pat Beverley, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris Sr., and Ivica Zubac for the Clippers, and DJ Augustin, Khyri Thomas, Jae’Sean Tate, KJ Martin, and Kelly Olynyk for the Rockets (16-54). That clear talent discrepancy explains the massive split in records, and it’s why Los Angeles is a significant favorite at Toyota Center.
Yet, Houston has a number of young players who are fighting to earn roles and roster spots for next season. In the recently completed road trip, the Rockets covered the large spread in each game, and they were potentially one missed call from defeating the defending champion Lakers. On Friday, the Clippers are likely to be fatigued on a back-to-back, while the Rockets could be energized in their final home game.
It’s probably not enough for Houston to win outright, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if they again cover the spread.
Prediction: Clippers 118, Rockets 111
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