Tip off: 8 PM EST
Spread: HOU -9.5
Total: 184
M/L: HOU -600, NOH +475
Betting Odds Taken from Bookmaker
I guess most Hornets fans realized there would be a decline after jettisoning franchise player Chris Paul. The main problem, however, has been that the player they got back, Eric Gordon, has been injured most of this season. The result? The Hornets are 3-11 and are sitting at last place in the Southwest division, with no ascent probable. The Hornets have lost five straight, and if the Vegas line is any indicator, tonight will likely spell their sixth straight loss.
Because of Gordon’s injury, Jarrett Jack has been pressed into doing a lot more. He leads the team in scoring with a career high 16.4 points per game, but no other Hornets average over 12 per game and the team is putting up an anemic 86 points per game.
The Rockets, meanwhile, have been about what most expected. They sit at .500. However, things may be turning up since the Rockets have won four straight, including a 17 point victory over the Pistons on Tuesday night. Six Rockets reached double figures in the game.
Kyle Lowry has been arguably the best point guard in the league this year. He made Aaron Brooks expendable last season and has quietly emerged as one of the best defensive point guards in the league and is a consistent triple double threat with his rebounding prowess and passing skills.
Hornets Betting Trends:
The Hornets have gone 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and the total has gone UNDER in 6 of the last 8. The Hornets are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games and 1-4 SU in their last 5 road games.
Rockets Betting Trends:
Houston is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games and the total has gone UNDER in 7 of their last 9 games. the total has also gone UNDER in 8 of their last 9 at home. The Rockets are 5-1 SU in their last 6 home games.
Key Matchup:
Jarrett Jack vs. Kyle Lowry
I’ve already mentioned both point guards, mainly because they are the best players on their respective teams (ignoring the injured Eric Gordon for the Hornets of course). Jack’s offensive game has significantly developed from his days at Georgia Tech and it has made him one of the better all around point guards in the league. That’s good because Lowry’s skill set will exploit even the best defenders and Jack will have to be cognizant of Lowry’s position on the court at all times, since Lowry is great at tracking down loose balls and long rebounds. Both players are probably better defenders than scorers, which is saying a lot considering Jack leads the Hornets in scoring and Lowry puts up nearly the most points on the Rockets as well (17.3 ppg).
Expect Lowry to try to force Jack left a lot, which may or may not prove effective since Jack’s game has significantly diversified. This matchup will be where it starts and ends tonight, and since Lowry is the better player and the Rockets the better team, don’t expect a big variance from the Vegas spread.
