The Houston Rockets expected to have a tougher time scoring points in the absence of Christian Wood (right ankle sprain). But it appears that the athletic big man’s absence is costing them on defense, too.
The Rockets are 0-3 since Wood’s latest injury, and their struggles have been equally pronounced on both ends of the court. While Houston’s defense is still Top 5 in net rating for the 2020-21 season as a whole, the Rockets have actually slipped to second-worst over the last two games. Veterans John Wall and PJ Tucker were quite critical of their team’s defensive performance after Tuesday’s blowout loss at New Orleans.
The bad news is that Wood remains out for Thursday’s game versus Miami. The good news is that unlike the last two games, Houston should have its full trio of veteran guards in John Wall, Eric Gordon, and Victor Oladipo, who each rested for part of this week’s back-to-back. Wall did suffer a minor ankle injury on Tuesday, but he’s listed as probable to play.
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Rockets +3.5 (-115), Heat -3.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Rockets +120/Heat -145
- Over-under: 219.5 (-110 O, -100 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: Jimmy Butler 19.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Kendrick Nunn 14.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Duncan Robinson 12.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Kelly Olynyk 9.5 (-115 O, -110 U); Houston TBD
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Thursday’s starters for New Orleans are expected to be Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Kelly Olynyk, and Bam Adebayo. Meanwhile, Stephen Silas will counter with John Wall, Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate, PJ Tucker and DeMarcus Cousins for the Rockets.
The Heat have a long injury list at the moment, with Avery Bradley (out, right calf), Gordon Dragic (out, left ankle), Meyers Leonard (out, left shoulder), Gabe Vincent (out, left hip flexor strain), and Maurice Harkless (questionable, left thigh) among the most significant names.
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Advice and prediction
While Miami is a relative disappointment for the regular season as a whole, they do enter with three consecutive victories. Skeptics could point out that those wins have come against the Wizards and Knicks (twice), who aren’t particularly good teams. Then again, the Rockets haven’t looked good themselves since losing Wood to injury.
For the underperforming Eastern Conference champions and a Houston squad looking to end a three-game losing streak, both sides have plenty to play for in Thursday’s nationally televised matchup on TNT. The Heat probably aren’t quite as good as their current streak would suggest, given the opponents, while the Rockets should have a full-strength backcourt for the first time in nearly a week. Assuming Wall plays, that could suggest some underdog value on Houston with the points.
Prediction: 112-110, Heat
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