The Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers have the name recognition of title contenders, but only one is playing like it. Houston is on the Warriors’ tail for supremacy in the Western Conference but the Cleveland Cavaliers have not lived up to the billing as of yet. They are hoping a win over Houston this week could be a signature victory that gets them going.
Cleveland is in the less-competitive Eastern Conference but has been mediocre for quite a while and needs something to change in a hurry in order to be considered a legitimate threat to make a deep run. The Cavaliers are at home in this game and boast LeBron James, so it’s impossible to count them out, but the Rockets have been the superior team all year and could be the favorites despite playing on the road.
Houston has established itself as the second best team in the NBA this year and can add another log to that fire with a win against the Cavaliers.
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Odds Analysis
The Rockets are 37-13 straight up and 24-25-1 against the spread. They have covered in 14 of 24 games this season, including a nice road win last time out over the Spurs. The Rockets are 22-22-1 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
The Cavaliers are 30-20 straight up and 14-35-1 against the spread. They have gone a pitiful 5-19-1 against the spread at home this season as Cleveland has underperformed expectations. The Cavs have only been the underdog eight times this season, covering in five of them.
Injury Report
Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love suffered a fractured hand recently and is going to miss several weeks of action. It isn’t the news Cleveland needed, as it has struggled to find consistency all year and Love had been one of the team’s most consistent performers.
Love is averaging 17.9 points and 9.4 rebounds on the season on his way to being named to another All-Star game. Love is shooting 46.3 percent from the field and is a rare big who can hit from deep, making more than 40 percent of his three-point attempts.
Love’s absence should give more minutes to Jae Crowder and Tristan Thompson, a pair of veterans who help to play well in his stead. Love is also a talented passer, so his absence will definitely be felt.
The Rockets are currently without shooting guard Eric Gordon and small forward Trevor Ariza. If they don’t play in this one it would be a blow to the team’s depth.
Matchup To Watch
James Harden vs. LeBron James -- Both of these superstars are in the MVP conversation, with Harden the leader in the clubhouse at this juncture. While James has an argument as one of the two best to ever play the game alongside Michael Jordan, Harden has been even better than the King this season.
Harden is averaging 31.6 points, 9.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per contest. He had a monster game recently, compiling a ridiculous 60 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a win over the Magic, becoming the first player in league history to notch 60 points when going for a triple-double.
James is averaging 26.6 points, 8.7 assists and 7.9 rebounds. The Cavs have struggled for most of this season but when James is in charge the team always has a chance, especially at home. If he can get the best of Harden, Cleveland will have a chance to win this one.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Cavs have a nice collection of talent but it has not come together correctly this year. Houston is a much more well-rounded team and should be able to ride its superior offense to the win, even on the road.
The Rockets are also likely to cover the spread unless it comes in higher than expected. The “over” should be considered heavily in a game that could be played at a brisk pace.
NBA Odds: Rockets 123, Cavaliers 116
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