The Los Angeles Clippers (31-31) and Houston Rockets (15-44) played one another to close out the first half of the season and face-off Sunday for the first of two consecutive games against each other. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET at Toyota Center in Houston. Below, we look at the Clippers vs. Rockets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Clippers beat the Rockets 142-111 before the All-Star break and have won four of their last five games. They continue to hang on in the playoff race despite G Kawhi Leonard, F Paul George and G Norman Powell all unavailable due to injury. They opened the second half of the season with a 105-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Friday.
The Rockets lost 119-111 to the Orlando Magic Friday to open their second half. They have lost eight straight games and 12 of their last 13 outings, and are last place in the Western Conference.
Clippers at Rockets 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 10:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Clippers -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Rockets +230 (bet $100 to win $230)
- Against the spread (ATS): Clippers -6.5 (-115) | Rockets +6.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 229.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Clippers at Rockets key injuries
Clippers
- F Paul George (elbow) out
- G Kawhi Leonard (knee) out
- G Norman Powell (foot) out
Rockets
- G Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) questionable
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Clippers at Rockets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Clippers 112, Rockets 104
Money line
PASS on the money line.
It is right at the threshold where betting the favorite doesn’t make sense value-wise and the underdogs aren’t a viable play against a Clippers’ team in the playoff race. The Rockets have the second-worst home record in the league at 8-18 and are a bad money line bet pretty much every game.
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Against the spread
The Clippers are not only 31-31 overall in wins and losses, they are also 31-31 ATS. They have covered the spread in five straight games but are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
The Rockets have only covered the spread twice in their last 10 games. They lost by 31 to the Clippers in the last game before the All-Star Break.
I expect a closer game, but not super close. Take the CLIPPERS -6.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Rockets’ last five games all finished with 230 or more points and only three of their last 10 games have gone Under the projected total.
Their last game against the Clippers had 253 points.
The Clippers have only exceeded this total once in their last six games.
Take UNDER 229.5 (-115).
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