The Houston Rockets (10-23) travel to Spectrum Center Monday to take on the Charlotte Hornets (17-17). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Rockets vs. Hornets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
After starting the season 1-16 the Rockets found their groove and won seven outings in a row. However, Houston has won just two of its last nine games since that win streak.
Houston is led by C Christian Wood and has become a viable opponent despite having the league’s fourth-worst net rating. The Rockets are 16-16-1 against the spread (ATS) this season and 8-9-1 ATS as road underdogs.
The Hornets will be without F Miles Bridges Monday, but G LaMelo Ball and G Terry Rozier are both back in action.
Charlotte is one of just a handful of teams that it has been profitable to bet on every game. The Hornets are 20-14 ATS and are .500 despite having a negative net rating (minus-1.5). They’re 2-1 ATS as home favorites.
Rockets at Hornets 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 10:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rockets +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Hornets -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +6.5 (-115) | Hornets -6.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 235.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Rockets at Hornets key injuries
Rockets
- G Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) questionable
- G Jalen Green (hamstring) questionable
Hornets
- F Miles Bridges (health and safety protocols) out
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Rockets at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hornets 124, Rockets 116
Money line
PASS on the money line.
The Rockets have been good enough without their starting backcourt to make betting the Hornets (-270) not a smart move. However, I’d also stay away from predicting the upset with Houston’s 3-7 record over its last 10 games.
Against the spread
BET on the HORNETS -6.5 (-105). This is both a bet on the Hornets and a fade on the Rockets.
Houston has lost three straight to potential playoff teams, dropping games to the Chicago Bulls by 15 points, the Milwaukee Bucks by 20 and the Indiana Pacers by 12. The Hornets are just as dangerous as the Pacers and should prove that.
The Hornets are just 2-3 in their last 5 games, but a couple of those losses came to the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns. The Hornets should be coming in confident after outscoring the Denver Nuggets by 25 in the final quarter to win by 8 points in their last game Thursday.
I’d side with Charlotte given each teams’ current form. Also, the Hornets are the ninth-best shooting team in the league, so they’ve been consistently better this season.
Lastly, the Hornets have the second-best turnover rate and the Rockets have the league’s worst. I’d rather back fewer turnovers, especially when dealing with a team like Charlotte.
Over/Under
BET on the OVER 235.5 (-112) as betting the Under here is asking for trouble. Both teams have awful defenses while both also rank in the top five in pace and play to each others’ weaknesses.
The ultra-young Houston backcourt may again be sidelined again, allowing free reign for Ball and Rozier. Similarly, Charlotte doesn’t have much size up front to deal with Wood.
I’d rather side with the Over when combining the teams’ strengths along with the pace at which this game should be played.
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