Prediction and betting odds for Nov. 15, Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets (NBA Cup)

Posted by Admin November 15, 2024 NBA

Alperen Sengun and the surging Rockets (8-4) will open 2024 NBA Cup play at home with Friday’s group-stage matchup versus the Clippers (+3.5).

To conclude what is effectively a mini-series in Houston between Western Conference rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers have an immediate rematch with the Rockets on Friday night at Toyota Center. In contrast to Wednesday’s meeting, the second matchup will also serve as the group-stage opener for both teams in the Emirates NBA Cup 2024.

For Houston (8-4), which won Wednesday’s game, Friday’s contest will wrap up what is already a winning three-game homestand. Elite play by reserve forwards Tari Eason and Amen Thompson continues to be a leading storyline for the home team, as does the improved performance of veteran starter Dillon Brooks.

Houston enters Friday (projected lineups) with three straight wins, five in its last six games, and seven in its last nine — even with a trio of starters (Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, and Fred VanVleet) mired in an extended 3-point shooting slump.

The Rockets have overcome that to this point thanks to elite defense and rebounding, with Houston ranking No. 3 and No. 1 out of the NBA’s 30 teams in those categories.

In the aftermath of a recent four-game winning streak, James Harden and the visiting Clippers (6-6) enter Friday coming off two straight losses. Road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder (10-2), who are at No. 1 in the Western Conference standings, followed by this trip to No. 5 Houston have seemingly provided something of a reality check (at least for the current version of Los Angeles, which continues to be without superstar forward Kawhi Leonard due to injury).

Clippers at Rockets Betting Odds:

All NBA Odds via BetMGM:

Point spread: Rockets -3.5
Money line: Rockets -175 / Clippers +145
Over-under: 214.5

Clippers at Rockets Injury Updates:

Rockets: Steven Adams, questionable, right knee injury recovery
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard, out, right knee injury recovery
Clippers: PJ Tucker, out, not with team

For Houston, Cam Whitmore, Nate Williams, and N’Faly Dante are all currently unavailable while being with the club’s NBA G League affiliate. The same is true with Mo Bamba, Trentyn Flowers, and Cam Christie for the Clippers.

Prediction and Picks for Clippers at Rockets:

Not only is Houston the better team on paper, but they’re also the younger team. In contrast to a veteran-laden Clippers squad led by Harden and Norman Powell, Houston’s current nine-man playing rotation features six players drafted in the first rounds of the 2021 through 2024 NBA draft classes.

That youth could make the Rockets more likely to play with extra energy in NBA Cup game, as compared to a Los Angeles squad that is likely to be more concerned with navigating a long season and managing minutes totals.

After being favored by 4.5 points entering Wednesday’s game and ultimately covering (Houston won, 111-103), it’s unusual to see the Rockets drop to a lower number (-3.5) for Friday’s rematch.

The Rockets should also be due for improved 3-point shooting by at least one member of their struggling trio of starters. We’ll bet on VanVleet, who showed encouraging signs in Wednesday’s second half.

Best Bet: Rockets -3.5 (-115)

Favorite Prop: Fred VanVleet, over 2.5 makes on 3-pointers (+105)

Prediction: 110-105 Rockets