The Houston Rockets (16-48) visit FTX Arena Monday to take on the Miami Heat (43-22). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Rockets vs. Heat odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Heat are coming off an impressive 99-82 win over the Philadelphia 76ers as they covered as 5.5-point home favorites. Miami has been hot lately with four straight covers. It is 38-26-1 against the spread (ATS) this season.
Miami is led by G Jimmy Butler who is averaging 21.4 points per game. The Heat’s strength lies defensively as they have the fourth-best opponents’ field goal percentage (44.3%).
The Rockets will play the second night of a back-to-back as they covered a 10.5-point spread and won outright 123-112 over the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday.
The Rockets are just 4-6 ATS over their last 10 outs but are 3-2 ATS as double-digit road underdogs. Houston is led by C Christian Wood who is averaging 17.9 points per game.
Rockets at Heat odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rockets +850 (bet $100 to win $850) | Heat -1800 (bet $1,800 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +14.5 (-107) | Heat -14.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
Rockets at Heat key injuries
Rockets (not officially submitted)
- G Dennis Schroder (ankle) questionable
Heat
- G Kyle Lowry (personal) out
- G Caleb Martin (Achillies) questionable
Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Rockets at Heat odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Heat 119, Rockets 110
Money line
PASS.
Both sides of this are unplayable at their current price tags. The Heat are 22-7 straight up at home, but betting on them at -1800 yields so little return that it makes the risk not worthwhile.
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Against the spread
BET the ROCKETS +14.5 (-107).
The Heat have been the far better-covering team this season, but that doesn’t stay true when it comes to getting this many points on the spread.
Miami is just 1-5 ATS when favored by double digits. The Heat won by 4 points at home against San Antonio as 13-point favorites and defeated Brooklyn at home by 4 points as 11-point favorites across just their last 10 games.
The Heat covered as 5-point favorites in a 120-110 win in Houston the first time these teams met on New Year’s Eve.
Assuming the Rockets can manage the same success on the offensive glass (Miami sits 11th in defensive rebounding rate yet Houston had 15 offensive rebounds in that Dec. 31 battle), they should keep this game close.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the OVER 225.5 (-112).
Without Lowry to bring the offensive stability, the Heat could be in for a shootout. The tempo of this game could mimic that of the San Antonio Spurs-Heat meeting Feb. 26 that saw a total of 262 points scored.
The Rockets rank 1st in pace and the Heat sit 29th.
Houston took 93 shots and had 18 turnovers in that first battle, and that’s been the calling card all season: a high-pace, sloppy offense which has typically resulted in the Over being a profitable bet.
Houston is 35-28-1 O/U while Miami is 38-27. It’s the better side of the total to bet in this matchup.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional NBA sports coverage:
HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | LeBron Wire | Lonzo Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]