NBA Matchup Nuggets @ Rockets
The Houston Rockets (15-9 SU, 12-12 ATS, 14-10 O/U) have failed to find their new identity so far this season after acquiring combustible forward Ron Artest in an offseason transaction. The streaking Denver Nuggets (16-7 SU, 14-8-1 ATS, 13-10 O/U) have almost literally taken off since getting former NBA Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups in a trade for Allen Iverson earlier this season.
The Rockets will look to get back in the win column while bringing the Nuggets’ four-game winning streak to an emphatic end when they host Denver at the Toyota Center tonight.
Houston had plans on competing for the Western Conference title after getting Artest but has struggled while battling injuries and inconsistency.
The Rockets are coming off a disheartening 95-82 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, failing to cover the spread for BetUS NBA sports betting backers as a 4-point home favorite in the BetUS Sportsbook.
The Rockets, who got a team-high 24 points from center Yao Ming and 19 points from Tracy McGrady and were outscored 50-34 in the second half
“Missing the shots that we did really bogged us down,” forward Shane Battier told the Rockets’ official Web site. “We let it affect our movement. Games like this, when we don’t move the ball and move ourselves, we normally lose.”
The Nuggets have been firing on all cylinders with Billups on board and enter tonight’s matchup coming off a solid 98-88 smackdown of the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, covering the spread for backers as a 2.5-point road underdog with room to spare.
Denver got a team-high 25 points from shooting guard J.R. Smith, 23 points from Carmelo Anthony and 15 points and eight assists from Billups.
Now 16-4 with Billups leading the way, the Nuggets have been playing stellar basketball recently, averaging 109.9 points and shooting 49.9 percent from the field while winning nine of their last 11 games.
Billups’ biggest contributions however, have been in helping the Nuggets learn how to defend.
“(Defense) was our main focus coming in,” said Billups. “We knew coming in that this team is as good an offensive team as you’ll find, so us being locked in and tuned into the game plan was important. We were able to contest all their shots.”
Here is a look at tonight’s key betting trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Pick:
Denver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Denver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
Denver is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games when playing at home against Denver
Houston is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Houston’s last 17 games at home
NBA Odds
Denver Nuggets +3 -110
Houston Rockets -3 -110
Over 200½ -110
Under 200½ -110
Analysis: Maybe it’s me but the way the Denver Nuggets are playing, not to mention the inconsistency the Houston Rockets have displayed all season, leads me to believe that, not only are the Nuggets going to cover the spread, but likely win outright.
Take the new-look Denver Nuggets to cover.
