The Houston Rockets (15-47) visit Ball Arena Friday to take on the Denver Nuggets (36-26). Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Rockets vs. Nuggets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Nuggets are coming off an embarrassing defeat to the 14th-place Thunder. Denver was a 15.5-point home favorite and lost by 12. It is still 7-3 against the spread (ATS) over its last 10 games but has failed to cover both times it has been favored by 10 or more.
The Nuggets are led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 25.4 points per game. He leads the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
As for the Rockets, they are 7-26 on the road this season and are 14-17-1 ATS as a road underdog. Houston is just 3-7 ATS over its last 10 but is 2-2 ATS when spotted more than 10 points.
The Rockets haven’t won since Feb. 2.
Rockets at Nuggets 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 1:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rockets +750 (bet $100 to win $750) | Nuggets -1400 (bet $1400 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +13.5 (-108) | Nuggets -13.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 238.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Rockets at Nuggets key injuries
Rockets
- None
Nuggets
- F Michael Porter Jr. (spine) out
- G Jamal Murray (knee) out
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Rockets at Nuggets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 120, Rockets 110
Money line
PASS.
Although the Nuggets lost to OKC at home in their last outing, the Rockets have lost 11 straight and aren’t playing nearly as well as the Thunder have as of late.
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Against the spread
“LEAN” to the ROCKETS +13.5 (-108).
The Rockets are 4-4 this calendar year when double-digit underdogs. While not great, the Nuggets haven’t played well when heavy favorites, just 1-4 ATS as 10-point favorites on the season.
They’ve played Houston twice, going 2-0 straight up and 1-1 ATS, but in neither game has Denver won by 14 or more. The Nuggets also aren’t very good at home, just 17-11 as compared to 19-15 on the road.
I can’t fully get behind this as Denver has been playing far better than Houston as of late. However, when spotted at least 10, Denver has struggled, which is why the only playable side is Houston in this spot.
Over/Under
BET the UNDER 238.5 (-112).
The Nuggets are 2-2 this season on totals above 230 points. This line has also inflated two points today.
While both sides have hit the Over more this season, it has been a struggle recently as the Nuggets are 0-2-1 O/U in their last 3 and the Rockets are 1-3 O/U in their last 4.
As for the refs, they’re a combined 57-66 with the umpire, Aaron Smith, just 13-27 O/U.
The Nuggets also sit 19th in pace on the season, so I’d be hesitant to think they’d want to play at Houston’s pace. Neither of the matchups between the two teams has hit this total either.
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