Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers
Series Tied 1-1
Time: 10:35 PM ET
Spread: LAC -5.5
M/L: LAC -240; HOU +200
Total: 216

Betting odds c/o Bovada

James Harden had a typical James Harden game in Game 2, and that hadn’t been the case often in the postseason.

Harden got to the line for 15 of Houston’s 64 (!) free throws, as the Clippers proceeded to make Houston win it from the line, which it did 115-109. NBA oddsmakers are setting the line 5.5 points in favor of the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 live lines, expecting Blake Griffin and company to rebound on its homecourt in L.A. The series is tied 1-1, and the point total for this game is set at 216, with Game 2 having seen the teams combine for 224 total points.

To understand these odds, see our NBA odds explained.

The Rockets won the game despite not shooting overly well. The team hit 42.5 percent from the floor, but the 64 free throws resulted in 42 makes. Houston also never found the range from three, going just 5 of 26 behind the arc and even turning it over 14 times. But the Clippers just didn’t have the playmaking that it had in the Game 1 performance which saw Blake Griffin produce 13 assists. L.A. had just 20 assists as a team on 39 field goals, and Griffin had just four.

Even still, Blake had a monster game with 34 points and 15 rebounds, but no other Clipper really got off offensively, given that the second-highest scorer Jamal Crawford shot just 6 of 22 from the floor and 1 of 8 from three. Meanwhile, Houston put all starters in double-figures, paced by Harden’s 32 and Dwight Howard’s 24 points.

Howard shot just 8 of 21 from the floor as the Clippers sought to hack him prior to the 2-minute marks of the half. Howard still had a dominant game with 16 boards (four offensive) and four blocked shots, but ideally if he even hits about half of those (11), the Rockets are able to close out the game without the Clippers trying to sneak back in it as they nearly did.

What will make this game more interesting of course is if Chris Paul can return. He’s missed the first two games of the series with a hamstring issue, but is now listed as questionable for tonight’s game. The Clippers are a far better team with its star playmaker on the court, as Griffin should be an accent playmaker, not the driving machine of the offense.

The Clips have been very good with Blake leading the way, but Paul sets the tone for the offense, seldom turns it over, and when he needs to he can take the wheel and just put the ball in the basket. If he’s ready to go, that gives the Clippers a decisive edge being at home and with the momentum of having already swung homecourt in its favor. The Clippers were 30-11 at home this season while the Rockets posted a very good 26-15 mark on the road.

ATS Trends

Houston
• Rockets are 24-7 ATS in their last 31 games following a ATS loss.
• Rockets are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Rockets are 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Rockets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Western Conference.
• Rockets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Rockets are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Rockets are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
• Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Pacific.

L.A. Clippers
• Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Clippers are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 Friday games.
• Clippers are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• Clippers are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
• Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
• Clippers are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 home games.

OU Trends

Houston
• Over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 vs. NBA Pacific.
• Over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• Over is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Over is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 games following a S.U. win.
• Over is 10-2 in Rockets last 12 vs. Western Conference.
• Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 overall.
• Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 road games.
• Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Over is 7-2 in Rockets last 9 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

L.A. Clippers
• Over is 4-0 in Clippers last 4 games following a ATS win.
• Under is 10-1 in Clippers last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
• Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 overall.
• Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 vs. Western Conference.
• Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
• Under is 8-2 in Clippers last 10 games following a S.U. loss.
• Over is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Over is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Over is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• Over is 6-2 in Clippers last 8 Friday games.
• Under is 13-6 in Clippers last 19 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Head to Head

• Under is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in Los Angeles.
• Rockets are 16-7 ATS in the last 23 meetings in Los Angeles.
• Road team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
• Rockets are 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings.