The Golden State Warriors have long been recognized as the team to beat in the playoffs behind their superstar cast. Golden State may still get that nod provided it can get healthy by the postseason, but the Houston Rockets are making their claim to be the team to beat. The Rockets have won seven consecutive games and are going to finish with the best record in the NBA this season.
They can take another step toward wrapping that up with a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans next time out. New Orleans would love to pull the upset as it is in a battle for playoff positioning below Houston and Golden State in the Western Conference standings.
The road environment and the high caliber of the opponent will not make it easy on the Pelicans in NBA basketball betting lines.
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Odds Analysis
The Rockets are 58-14 straight up and 37-33-2 against the spread. Houston has only gone 13-20-1 against the spread at home this season as the oddsmakers have often given their opponents a large handful of points. The Rockets are 35-30-2 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
The Pelicans are 43-30 straight up and 40-32-1 against the spread. New Orleans has covered in 17 of 31 attempts as the underdog. The Pelicans are 23-13 against the spread on the road this season.
Key Stat
1-2. That might be the order of finish in the MVP race for the two superstars featured in this game. Houston’s James Harden has been virtually unstoppable all season, averaging 31.0 points, 8.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Harden’s play has helped lift the Rockets from a very good team to a great one that is capable of challenging for the NBA championship. He has scored 32 points or more in three of his past four games, including a 42-point outburst against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
The Pelicans’ best chance to stay close in this one is by getting a monster performance from their MVP candidate, Anthony Davis. The young big man is averaging 28.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game and is shooting 53.9 percent from the field.
Scheduling Situation
This is the second game in a five-game stretch in which Houston gets every game at home. The Rockets held on to beat the Pistons in overtime last time out and will follow with contests against the Hawks, Bulls, and Suns.
This is the only real tough matchup remaining on the homestand so if the Rockets claim the win they should be able to push their winning streak into double digits.
The Rockets are 28-6 at home this season and should get close to clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a strong home stand, which would include a win in this one over the Rockets.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Pelicans are playing well and are in a tough battle with the Thunder, Spurs and others for the No. 4 seed and home court advantage in the first round. New Orleans would love to find a way to pull this upset but it’s going to be too tall of a task.
Take the Rockets to win this game as well as cover. Their firepower is too strong in NBA basketball betting lines.
NBA Odds: Rockets 119, Pelicans 103
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