NBA Picks: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have won all five of their games as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points this season, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks Thursday as they prepare to take on the Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Rockets are 7.5-point favorites in the pro basketball odds, with the betting total sitting at 198 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Western Conference matchup from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.

Gambling stats via SBR Forum

Memphis Grizzlies

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The Grizzlies have dropped all seven of their games against Southwest Division opponents, including a 93-86 defeat to the Rockets as one-point home underdogs on Nov. 25.

NBA handicappers will find that the Grizzlies are 3-10 straight up and against the spread as an underdog during the 2013-14 campaign.

Houston Rockets

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The Rockets have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games, and they're coming off a 111-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs as 7.5-point road underdogs Wednesday.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Rockets are 18-4 straight up and 15-7 against the spread as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points, with the OVER going 12-10 in that situation.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Houston Rockets, as the favorite has covered the number in eight of the last nine meetings in this series.

NBA Pick: Houston Rockets -7.5

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