Betting on the Rockets vs. Pacers showdown is a tough job, but this interconference matchup headlines Wednesdayโs NBA schedule that is full of exciting games. Therefore, Iโve prepared the latest odds update on BetAmerica Sportsbook along with the best betting tips and trends.
The Rockets will miss a few players including Danuel House, but all their key guys are raring to go. On the other side, the Pacers are without T.J. Warren, Jeremy Lamb, and Goga Bitadze.
Houstonโs offense collapsed in the I-45 derby
The Houston Rockets (2-3; 2-3 ATS) snapped a two-game win streak last Monday, suffering a 113-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks as 4-point home favorites. They went scoreless for four and a half minutes in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 39.0% shooting from the field and 27.5% from beyond the arc.
Christian Wood had another good game, notching 23 points and seven rebounds. Heโs averaging 23.6 points and 10.0 boards on the season, while James Harden adds 33.0 points and 10.8 assists per game.
The Rockets allow the second-most offensive rebounds (11.7) and second-chance points per game (16.2), as their interior defense is a big issue once more. Houston also surrenders 49.2 points in the paint per contest (22nd in the NBA).
Their defensive rating is 23rd in the league (113.1), and the Rocketsโ rivals make 39.2% of their 3-pointers (24th). Houston scores 109.8 points per 100 possessions (13th) on 46.8% shooting from the field (11th) and 33.5% from downtown (23rd).
Indiana bounced back from a tough loss to New York
After an upsetting 106-102 home loss to the Knicks as 9.5-point home favorites, the Indiana Pacers (5-2; 5-2 ATS) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 108-106 in overtime this past Monday. Malcolm Brogdon hit the winning basket with 1.7 seconds left on the clock, finishing with 21 points and 11 assists.
The Pacers played good defense, limiting the Pelicans to 43.6% shooting from the field, but they lost the battle on the glass, allowing a whopping 16 offensive rebounds. Indiana shot 48.4% from the field while handing out 32 assists, so Nate Bjorkgren can be pleased with his teamโs offensive performance.
Six Indiana players average points in double figures, and the Pacers tally 113.0 points per 100 possessions (6th). They have the third-best field-goal percentage in the NBA (49.3%) while handing out the third-most assists per 100 possessions (27.3).
The Pacers allow 106.4 points in a return (8th) on 45.9% shooting from the field (14th) and 41.8% from beyond the arc (30th).
[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”nba/pacers” size=”300×250″ site_id=”atsio” css=”float:right; margin-left:10px”]Trends:
Houston:
- 2-7 ATS in the last nine games overall
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games against Eastern Conference
Indiana:
- 5-2 ATS in seven games this season
- 4-1 ATS in the last five games against Southwest Division
The Winner Prediction
This should be a tight contest, and the bookies know it, listing the Pacers as slight 2-point favorites. Iโm only worried about the Pacersโ 3-point line defense, as you never know when the Rockets will make it rain from deep, but the hosts look like a much better team at the moment.
The Pacers will hopefully take advantage of Houstonโs awful interior defense. They have a chance to bounce back from a poor rebounding performance at New Orleans, while the Pacers are certainly a better defensive team than Houston.
Pick: Take Indiana -2.0 at -110
The Total:
Considering how poorly both teams defend the 3-point line, I have to go with the over on the totals, though both Houston and Indiana average just above 100 possessions per 48 minutes.
The Pacers execute offensively at a high level. They can play solid defense, too, but it would be tough limiting James Harden and his teammates below 110 points.
The under has hit in eight of the last nine encounters between the Rockets and Pacers, but Iโm ignoring the betting trends in this one. The over is 4-3 in Indianaโs seven outings this season, and it is 3-2 in Houstonโs five showings.
Pick: Go over 226.5 points at -110