The Houston Rockets are facing a new opponent in the second round of the playoffs, but they are looking for the same easy result. Houston rolled past the Timberwolves in the first round and had a similar experience with a blowout of the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Rockets will aim to take control of this series with another convincing victory over Utah in Game 2. Houston is the home team and the superior group it will be the sizable favorite. The Jazz played well in its opening round victory over the Thunder but looked out of its league in the first game against the Rockets. Utah needs to put together a better game plan for this rematch in NBA basketball gambling.
Game 2 of this NBA Playoff Series is on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The contest will be nationally televised on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Odds Analysis
The Rockets are listed as heavy 11.5-point favorites to take care of business once again in Game 2. Despite the large spread, it seems to be pretty well-pegged as about half of the money is coming in on both Houston and Utah to cover.
The scoring total is listed at 204.5 points, with the “over” the more popular pick. The Rockets are -1050 favorites on the moneyline while the Jazz are +688 underdogs. Utah is a great value if it can manage to pull the upset.
Injury Report
Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio could miss another week with a hamstring injury he suffered in the first-round series against the Thunder. He was a key cog in that series, averaging 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per contest.
Rubio missed Game 1 and his absence was felt as Utah only scored 96 points. Star guard Donovan Mitchell suffered a tweaked ankle in Game 1 but he professes to be 100 percent. The Jazz badly need Mitchell to play well in this series if there is any hope of sticking around against the Rockets.
Last Time Out
The Rockets made quick work of the Jazz in the first game of the series, taking a 25-point lead into halftime and cruising to the 110-96 win. James Harden dominated, putting up 41 points with eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Rockets shot a scintillating 53 percent from three-point range and if they hit anywhere close to that clip consistently in this series the Jazz are going to be in all sorts of trouble.
Jae Crowder had 21 points off the bench to give Utah a boost while Mitchell had 21 as well. Utah struggled from the free throw line and it must take advantage of those freebies moving forward.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Jazz should be able to stick closer in this rematch. Houston is a very good shooting team but no one can count on a 53 percent night from downtown regularly. The absence of Rubio is a big one but it’s the other end of the floor that will determine if the Jazz can stick closer in this one.
Take Utah to cover in Game 2 as it figures some things out defensively. The Rockets, though, are still the pick to win this game in NBA basketball betting lines. The “under” is the pick on the scoring total as the Jazz are going to try hard to slow down the pace and keep the Rockets from running away with the win.
NBA ATS Pick: Rockets 107, Jazz 100
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