The Houston Rockets will have a close look at the Indiana Pacers team that has been sending some waves of upsets in the East when this team pays them a visit on Wednesday. With few teams enjoying the season more than these two, it’s a setting for a great night of basketball.
Pacers at Rockets
Spread: Houston Rockets -11.5 (-110) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: o/u 222.5 points (-110)
Oladipo’s return boosts Pacers
The Indiana Pacers got their starting guard Victor Oladipo back and they had no problem defeating the Orlando Magic at the start of Week 7 of the NBA season. Oladipo may have rushed his recovery a bit to face his old team, but showed no ill-effects of injury. He led the Pacers like a true cornerstone – too bad that nobody was there to watch it. A sea of empty seats filled the arena when the Pacers laid a 121-109 beating on ex-Pacers coach Frank Vogel and his Orlando Magic.
Returning from a one-game absence Oladipo made his first 11 shots and had 26 points, six rebounds and five assists that catapulted his team to an easy victory. The first shot he missed was in the fourth quarter when a three-pointer finally spun out for the Magic. By that time, the lead was already +17 and the Magic wouldn’t threaten until the final buzzer. He didn’t do it alone – the Pacers had another four players scoring at least 18 points: Bogdanovic and Turner in the starting five, and Sabonis and Stephenson coming in off the bench. The Pacers were rarely bothered by Magic defense, shooting 53.2 percent from the field and a blistering 57.7 percent from beyond the arc. They also outrebounded the opposition and held them in check without fouling much. The Pacers have won six of their last seven games, making sure to make the best of the easier part of the schedule before they head South. McMillan kept a tight rotation, using only eight players, allowing (most of) them to find the rhythm.
There are no injuries to report as Indiana Pacers roll on a short, but tough two-game road trip. After making short stops in Houston and Toronto, the Pacers are playing another six games at home.
Place: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 29th, 2017. 8:00 PM ET
TV Coverage: ATTSS-W, Fox Sports Indiana
Houston needs only a single quarter to handle Nets
The Rockets promised not to sleepwalk into the Nets game after falling behind early to the Knicks the other night, and they kept it. Playing against an inferior opponent missing injured players wouldn’t lull them into thinking they have only to show up, and it turned to a comfortable and enjoyable Monday night for Houston players (and fans) as the first quarter 43-26 lead was turned into a 117-103 win.
James Harden continued his bid for an MVP award with a brilliant performance, punishing the Nets for playing zone by hitting 8 threes in the game. He finished with 37 points on 13-of-20 shots, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Paul had an off night shooting the ball, but was happy to dish the ball – his 14 assists were the most since he joined the Rockets. Capela had 20 points, and Ariza and Anderson hit three treys each, a part of Houston’s 20-of-50 night from beyond the arc. Of the 16 games in NBA history in which a team has put up 50 3s, the Rockets are responsible for 14 of them. They have made at least 18 3s in all five games of the win streak. Gordon returned from injury, but couldn’t find the shooting touch from deep, missing nine of ten three-point attempts. The Rockets shot 48.8 percent and cruised after opening up a big lead. The Nets would come as close as 4 points in the third quarter, but the Rockets shifted a gear and it soon was 22 again.
The Mavericks rarely play Nerlens Noel and Dorian Finney-Smith anymore, so it was no surprise that they weren’t featured in San Antonio, but they are also reportedly nursing some light injuries. Their next three games are in Dallas.
Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets Game Trends & Prediction
The Indiana Pacers have improved to 13-8 against the spread with six paydays in the last seven tries. They play equally well at home as on the road, where they’ve gone 7-4 so far. There were no significant streaks on the totals market since the beginning of the season. The Pacers are 11-10 against the over/under overall, and 7-4 when traveling.
As winners of the past five games, and nine of the previous ten, the Houston Rockets outscored their opponents by double digits this year (on average). This has allowed them to muscle an 11-9 ATS record. However, their last two games ended in ATS losses, as the books are doing everything they can to fade any value on them. Same goes for the over points – the Rockets are 1-3 in the last four and 9-11 against the total points lines.
Admi-Rank: Life on the top is a lonely one, and the Rockets down arrow only represents the Rockets unwillingness to blowout the Nets. The Pacers are way behind, but going in right direction with some very nice victories as of late.
The Pacers won’t shoot as well as in the last game each night, and even if they do so in Houston, they don’t have the same firepower at their host. Still, they have a good team chemistry – most of the players are castoffs willing to prove otherwise and nobody stands out as the superstar wannabe. They lack some true leadership and this will cost them a few close games, but Indiana would be happy just to stay close to the Rockets here, win or lose. Two sides already met this season, in Indy, when the Pacers got blitzed in the first and suffered one of the worst defeats of the season. The Rockets played that game without Paul, but it was just two weeks ago, so at least Indiana has the recent experience of how it is to play against this long range launching team.
Officially, Oladipo is questionable to play in Houston, and the books have learned from previous games. Eastern teams come to southern Texas to lose, and while there, they figure it’s best to at least give their stars a breather. The Rockets should be able to cover the spread and record another win tonight.
My Pick: Houston Rockets -11.5 (-110)
Total: pass
