The Philadelphia 76ers (18-10) host the Houston Rockets (11-16) Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Rockets-76ers NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Houston has lost six straight since C Christian Wood was sidelined due to injury Feb. 6, and four of those losses were by at least 12 points. In their previous six games, the Rockets are last in total rebounding percentage and 22nd in defensive rating.
Philadelphia finished its four-game trip out West at 1-3 straight up and against the spread, and has lost three straight contests entering Wednesday. All three of those losses were to winning teams and the last was against the red-hot Utah Jazz without C Joel Embiid.
Rockets at 76ers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rockets +425 (bet $100 to win $425) | 76ers -580 (bet $580 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rockets +10.5 (-105) | 76ers -10.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Rockets at 76ers: Key injuries
Rockets
- PF P.J. Tucker (quadriceps) questionable
- SG Eric Gordon (groin) doubtful
- SG Victor Oladipo (foot) doubtful
- C Christian Wood (ankle) out
76ers
- C Joel Embiid (back) probable
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Rockets at 76ers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
76ers 119, Rockets 102
Money line (ML)
PASS on the money line because even though Philadelphia is the right side, there’s no way you can justify laying -580 on a regular-season win.
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Against the spread (ATS)
I really enjoyed how the Rockets were playing prior to Wood’s injury but the absence of an elite rebounding and shot-blocking big like Wood is a major factor when facing a legitimate MVP candidate in Embiid.
Not only has Houston’s defense cratered since losing Wood but the 76ers have played well against good defenses. According to CleaningTheGlass.com, Philadelphia is 5-2 with the third-highest offensive efficiency and a plus-4.2 spread differential vs. bottom 10 defenses.
The Rockets are 1-7 with the second-to-last offensive efficiency and a minus-6.7 spread differential vs. bottom 10 defenses. Beyond this, there isn’t a situational-based argument backing Houston here. The 76ers are returning home after a road trip, Embiid is rested and the Rockets are too banged-up.
I lean 76ERS -10.5 (-115) for a half-unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
While there are a bunch of individual statistics that show how good Wood has been defensively he’s also important for the Rockets offensively.
According to CleaningTheGlass.com, Wood is actually in the 97th percentile of bigs in terms of team effective field-goal percentage on-off court stats. Hence Houston’s last-place ranking in points per game, field-goal and 3-point shooting over the previous six games.
I’ll TAKE the UNDER 226.5 (-110) for a half-unit because the scoring should be one-sided and the game’s pace could die in the second half if the game is out of hand.
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Also see:
- Despite losing streak, Wall remains hopeful of playoff push (Rockets Wire)
- Simmons, Sixers react to career game, throw shade at Gobert (Sixers Wire)
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