The Houston Rockets sputtered badly early in the season, but they have finally started to look better lately. The Rockets have used a modest winning streak to get over .500 on the season and they hope to stay sizzling in a matchup against the Miami Heat.
Houston has the more talented team but Miami’s record is pretty similar and the Heat has the home court advantage. This could be a competitive matchup and it will be interesting to see how the oddsmakers handicap this one in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat will be held at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida at 8 p.m ET on Thursday, December 20th, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
The Rockets have a record of 15-14 on the season and are starting their move up the Western Conference standings after sitting in second-to-last place recently. Houston is just 7-9 on the year on the road and will aim to improve on that mark.
The Heat is 13-16 on the year, which is currently a game out of a playoff spot. The Eastern Conference is not as deep as the West and Miami has enough talent to make the postseason if it picks up the caliber of play. Miami has only won five of 14 games at home on the year and must improve on that moving forward in NBA betting lines.
Injury Report
Miami point guard Goran Dragic has missed the past three games with a knee injury and it seems like he could be hard-pressed to play in this one. If Dragic cannot go, it will be a big loss. He is averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest. Dragic is one of the team’s better players and his extended absence this season has not helped the team’s hopes.
Heat forward Justise Winslow suffered an ankle injury recently and it remains to be seen how severe the injury is moving forward. Winslow is averaging 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest and he is another important piece for the Heat.
Key Stat
47. That’s the number of points Houston star forward James Harden scored in a win over the Jazz last time out. The Rockets have had some issues with depth this season but their MVP has remained playing at a high level.
Harden is averaging 30.9 points, 8.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. He will need some help moving forward but the presence of Harden gives Houston the ability to hang with any team in the league in a given night.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Heat has a decent collection of talent, including Hassan Whiteside down low. The Rockets will need to play well to come away with a road win, but they are really looking good of late. Look for Houston to keep things rolling with another victory.
The Rockets are unlikely to catch the Warriors atop the West but there is plenty of time for them to surge up the standings and enter the playoffs with a solid seed. A win over Miami will put them another step in the right direction in NBA odds.
NBA ATS Pick: Houston Rockets 119, Miami Heat 114
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