Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Odds, Analysis, NBA Betting Pick
Two teams battling for one of the top four seeds in the Western Conference will square off Wednesday in Los Angeles when the Clippers (36-23) host the Houston Rockets (42-19) as small home favorites.
The Rockets currently reside in the third playoff spot behind the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, while the Clippers sit a half-game behind the Utah Jazz in fifth.
Point spread: This game opened as a pick'em; the total is at 232, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
NBA betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 109.7-109.2 Clippers (NBA picks on every game)
Why the Rockets can cover the spread
Houston has won six of the past eight meetings with Los Angeles both straight up and against the spread. Three of those wins took place in their second-round playoff series two years ago, when the Clippers blew a 19-point lead in Game 6 at home and a 3-1 series lead in a seven-game loss.
Mentally, that collapse still hangs over Los Angeles, especially after eliminating San Antonio in seven games in the first round that year. The teams have met just once this season, with the Rockets routing the Clippers 140-116 as 10.5-point home favorites on December 30.
Why the Clippers can cover the spread
Los Angeles has won and covered the spread in two of the previous three games between the teams, both of which took place last year. The Clippers won by an average of 12 points, and they are coming off a hard-fought 124-121 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday behind a season-high 43 points from power forward Blake Griffin.
Point guard Chris Paul also turned in an outstanding performance in his second game back from thumb surgery with 15 points, 17 assists and no turnovers in the win.
Smart betting pick
Los Angeles went 6-5 SU and 7-4 ATS last month after closing out January by going 1-4 SU and ATS. The Clippers are promising NBA title contenders when fully healthy, and they play four of their next five games on the road after this tough matchup with Houston.
The Rockets blew a 17-point lead in the first half of a 117-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday, and that setback could sit with them for a little while. Wager on Los Angeles here at sports betting sites.
NBA betting trends
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last six games on the road.
Los Angeles is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games.
The total has gone under in nine of Los Angeles' last 13 games at home.
All NBA lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
