Week 2 of the 2020-21 NBA season tips off Monday, December 28, so I bring you the best betting pick along with the latest odds update for the Western Conference showdown between the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.
The Rockets head to Ball Arena (formerly Pepsi Center) without John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Gordon, and Ben McLemore who are all quarantined for seven days due to the COVID-19. On the other side, the Nuggets should come in full strength, looking for their first win of the season.
The short-handed Rockets battled bravely in Oregon
The Houston Rockets are coming off a 128-126 overtime defeat at the Portland Trail Blazers this past Saturday. Due to the medical protocols, the Rockets counted on just nine guys and missed some important players, so it’s safe to say that Houston put on a strong performance in its opener.
James Harden led the way with 44 points and 17 assists while shooting 12-for-22 from the field and 14-for-16 from the charity stripe. Christian Wood enjoyed a wonderful debut in the Rockets’ uniform, accounting for 31 points and 13 rebounds, while P.J. Tucker added seven points and 11 boards.
Still, the Rockets blew a 10-point lead from halftime, scoring just 17 points in the third quarter. They finished the game with 27 assists and 15 turnovers while scoring a whopping 60 points in the paint.
The Nuggets hope to break out of their slump
The Denver Nuggets are 0-2 on the season following a disappointing 121-108 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday. They failed to cover as 3.5-point home underdogs, allowing 72 first-half points which tell you enough about their defensive effort.
The Clippers shot 55.4% from the field, while the Nuggets made just 45.7% of their field goals and only 30.6% of their 3-pointers. Nikola Jokic had another gem of a line, accounting for 24 points, nine rebounds, and ten assists; Jamal Murray scored 23 points, while Will Barton added 15 off the bench.
Denver is now winless in four straight outings dating back to the last season’s playoffs. The Nuggets are 0-3-1 ATS in that stretch, while they are only 1-5 SU and ATS in their previous six regular-season contests as a home team (including the bubble action).
[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”nba/nuggets” size=”300×250″ site_id=”atsio” css=”float:right; margin-left:10px”]Trends:
Houston:
- 1-4 ATS in the last five games overall
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games played on Monday
Denver:
- 3-0 ATS in the last three home games against Houston
The Winner Prediction
The Nuggets opened as 8.5-point favorites on DraftKings which was expected considering the Rockets’ problems with the COVID-19. Denver is only 3-8 SU and ATS in its last 11 encounters with the Rockets, but the Nuggets are 3-0 SU and ATS in their previous three home matchups with Houston.
This is an excellent opportunity for the Nuggets to finally break out of their funk. They just have to beat the short-handed Rockets on the home court, so I’m backing the Nuggets to win and cover. The spread is a tricky one, but the Nuggets should be fired up to prove their worth after a couple of disappointing displays in the opening week.
Pick: Take Denver Nuggets -8.5 at -110
The Total:
The over has hit in the Nuggets’ last five games overall, and it is 13-3-1 in their previous 17 regular-season contests. Denver doesn’t like to play at a fast pace, averaging the fewest possessions per 48 minutes in the NBA (97.1), but their defense is obviously an issue, and the Nuggets still execute well on the offensive end.
On the other side, the Rockets will lean heavily on James Harden. They took 35 shots from deep against Portland, and we should see more of the same when the Rockets visit Ball Arena. Therefore, I have to bet on the over.
Pick: Go over 226.5 points at -110
