The No. 2 Houston Rockets (5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS) attempt to even their Western Conference semifinal series with the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS) on Sunday. You can watch the game live on TNT.
Sometimes it’s just not your night. For the Rockets, Friday was not their night. Houston went scoreless over the final 3:45 of the third quarter and a close game turned into a rout as the Rockets fell 124-99 and now must win on Sunday to avoid a 3-1 series deficit. It was a blowout but it’s just one game. Houston can retake control of the series with a win Sunday.
The Clippers welcomed Chris Paul back to the lineup but didn’t really need him Friday as they cruised to the win and have so far looked like the superior team in this series. The Clips have scored better than 100 points in nine of their 10 postseason games cashing the over in four straight and in six of their last seven postseason contests.
KEY INJURY
There are no injuries to report.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“You can’t allow guys like Austin Rivers to score 25 points. That’s too many for him. We have to do a better job of attacking the basket. Tonight we didn’t do that and that’s when they ran away with the lead.” – Rockets center Dwight Howard after Friday’s loss.
BETTING TRENDS
- Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall.
- Los Angeles is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games overall.
- The OVER is 11-3 in Houston’s last 14 games overall.
KEY STATS
25: Clippers guard Austin Rivers scored a playoff career-high 25 points and sparked a decisive run to end the third quarter in LA’s win on Friday.
62.2: Houston has been awful from the free throw line in this series shooting 62.2 percent from the stripe making 74 of 119 attempts. The Rockets set franchise playoff records with 42 free throws in 64 attempts in Game Two and were just 18 of 31 Friday.
10: Blake Griffin scored 22 points with 14 rebounds Friday for his 10th straight double-double in the postseason. Houston’s Dwight Howard was the last player to do that in the 2009 playoffs.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
A 25-point loss to a lower seed in the playoffs is a blowout. Luckily for the Rockets it’s just one game and they have a chance to regroup for Game Four on Sunday. But their issues appear much deeper than a one-game fix. For the first time this postseason they were held to fewer than 100 points and their defense, which had been good during the regular season, has vanished in the playoffs. Following their 124-99 loss Friday, the Rockets look like a fragile group on the brink of elimination. “We got rattled in that third quarter. Our team defense went to hell,” coach Kevin McHale said.
After missing the first two games of the series with a hamstring injury, the return of Chris Paul was more of an emotional lift for the Clippers. It was nice having their floor leader back on the court but he wasn’t really needed as JJ Redick and Austin Rivers both went for playoff career highs in points keeping Paul and his tender hamstring on the bench. “Austin was unbelievable. I was probably his biggest cheerleader in the third quarter. I just kept saying, ‘I don’t want to play anymore if I don’t have to,’” Paul said.
The Rockets make three-point shots, score, and play just enough defense to win games. They did none of those on Friday and now trail the series. All five starters managed to reach double figures in scoring but they suffered through another horrible shooting night and failed to score 100 points for the first time this postseason. Again though, it’s just one game. The emergence of Rivers, who started the first two games of the series for Paul, along with Jamal Crawford has suddenly given the Clippers a formidable bench making them a very dangerous team. It’ll take more than one game though to determine if Rivers is an option off the bench. James Harden has been good and bad against LA this season. The good Harden shows up Sunday.
Houston 113, Los Angeles 108
The NBA odds for this game will first open at BookMaker sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The contest pitting the Houston Rockets versus the Los Angeles Clippers will commence Sunday, May 10, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The game will be televised nationally on TNT.
