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NBA Betting – Rockets vs. Celtics (Jan. 7)

Free pick and preview plus NBA betting odds and basketball lines for the matchup featuring the Houston Rockets and the Boston Celtics…

NBA Betting Analysis Rockets vs. Celtics

The Houston Rockets (21-15 SU, 16-20 ATS, 21-15 O/U) and the Boston Celtics (29-7 SU, 19-17 ATS, 16-19-1 O/U) may both be legitimate title contenders in their respective conferences, but the veteran-laden teams are each mired in losing streaks as they prepare to battle at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston tonight.  

The Rockets have lost three consecutive games in the BetUS Sportsbook and six of eight overall, including a 104-96 loss to the mediocre Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday in which they failed to cover the spread as 3-point road favorites in the BetUS Sportsbook.
To make matters worse for NBA sports betting enthusiasts that like to back the Rockets is the fact that they have managed to cover the spread just once in their last eight games.

Forward Luis Scola led Houston with 18 points and 17 rebounds while four other players all scored 14 points apiece.

Houston’s defense has gone belly-up the last two games as they allowed the Atlanta Hawks to make a blistering 58.9 percent from the field on Saturday, while Philadelphia drained 56.2 percent of its shots on Tuesday.

“We have to really start looking at things and finding out why we’re giving up way too high of a percentage to every team that we play,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “You can’t win on the road unless you defend and we haven’t been doing it.”

The Celtics have dropped two straight and five of its last seven overall, including a disheartening 114-106 overtime loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday. Swingman Paul Pierce led Boston with 28 points and six boards while shooting guard Ray Allen added 20 points but shot just 7-for-20 from the field.

The Celtics failed to cover the spread fro BetUS NBA sports betting fanatics as a 10-point road favorite, their third ATS loss in the last four games.

“We told our team before the season it will be 82 Game 7s. Every time we play it’s a Game 7 for the other team,” coach Doc Rivers said. “On the nights we’re not ready mentally for that, we’re going to have to get lucky and play over our head to win.”

Here is a look at the key betting trends for each team, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Picks:

Houston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Boston
Houston is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston’s last 10 games when playing Boston
Houston is 15-8 ATS in its last 23 games when playing Boston
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games at home
Boston is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games
Boston is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games at home

NBA Odds

Houston Rockets +10½ -110
Boston Celtics -10½ -110

Over 184½ -110
Under 184½ -110

Analysis: I don’t know what’s up with the Houston Rockets lately, but I like them to come with a very solid effort tonight as they keep it close against the struggling Celtics throughout. Were this line just a few points lower, I’d say the Celtics had a chance to cover. But with the spread sitting at over 10 points, I like the Rockets to cover.

NBA Free Picks: Houston +10½ Points/Under 184½ Total Points

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"