The Brooklyn Nets (17-7) travel to Toyota Center Wednesday to take on the Houston Rockets (7-16). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Nets at Rockets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Nets are coming off a thrilling 102-99 victory at the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday in which they rallied from a 17-point deficit. Led by former MVPs, PF Kevin Durant and SG James Harden, Brooklyn will look to avoid this trap game.
The Nets are 10-14 against the spread (ATS) this season. In this situation, as road favorites, they’re 5-4 ATS.
As for Houston, as a home underdog, it is 3-4 ATS, so not much there to see. The Rockets are led by star C Christian Wood. They started the season 1-16 and somehow, someway have now won 7 straight.
Nets at Rockets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:08 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Nets -320 (bet $320 to win $100) | Rockets +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nets -6.5 (-125) | Rockets +6.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Nets at Rockets key injuries
Nets
- SF Joe Harris (ankle) out
Rockets
- SG Jalen Green (hamstring) out
- SG Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) out
Nets at Rockets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nets 109, Rockets 106
Money line
PASS, however, Houston (+250) is worth a slight sprinkle. Considering how many people will likely put money on the Nets, it should climb to an even better payoff.
Against the spread
BET ROCKETS +6.5 (+100) as the best value in this game. They’ve been scorching hot lately, and as noted earlier, the Nets are in somewhat of a trap-game situation.
They are coming off a win in Dallas that required a ton of energy. Over the last five games, the Rockets have the third-best offense and 19th-best defense, far better than their season averages.
The lack of Green and Porter Jr. has helped their offense. It’s been far more through Wood and SF Jae’Sean Tate.
The Rockets also rank third in true-shooting percentage. Sure, it’s a small sample size, but the Rockets are playing so well that I’d bet on them covering a spread against a team primed to have a letdown game.
Brooklyn is 1-2-1 ATS without rest.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 224.5 (-107) as the Rockets are due for some regression and the Nets have one of the best defenses in the NBA.
While I envision some tired legs from Brooklyn, it should still manage to quell an ultra-hot Houston team. The Nets thrive at defending the 3, and the Rockets are averaging the 10th most in the league over their last 5 games.
With tired legs on one side and the other primed to take a step backward, I’d side with this Under. Brooklyn is 10-14 O/U this season, while Houston is 10-13 O/U, so it’s been more profitable to be the Under this season for both sides.
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