The Houston Rockets (33-19) meet the Utah Jazz (33-18) at the Toyota Center. The game can be seen on NBATV at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 9, 2020.
Houston opened as a 4-point favorite, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 233 points at PointsBet.
Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets ATS Prediction
In the Jazz’s last game, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 117-114, but they failed to cover as 10.5-point favorites. The game’s total points (231) were just over the O/U total of 230.5. The Jazz made 17 of their 24 free throws (70.8 percent) and had an offensive rebounding percentage of 28.3 (above their season average of 20.9). Rudy Gobert had a solid performance for Utah, recording 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The Rockets lost big to the Phoenix Suns in their last contest, 127-91, despite being 2.5-point favorites. The combined points for the game (218) came in well under the projected point total of 234.5. Phoenix’s 32.3 offensive rebounding percentage was their biggest advantage over Houston, who had a mark of 16.3. The Suns’ mark was above their season average of 21.9, while the Rockets’ was below their season average of 23.2. With 32 points on 9-for-19 shooting, James Harden was Houston’s leading scorer.
It will be a showdown of conflicting styles as the up-tempo Rockets (ranked fifth in the NBA in possessions per game) will look to push the more half-court-oriented Jazz (26th in possessions per game).
Utah holds records of 33-18 straight up (SU) and 24-25-2 against the spread (ATS). Of the Jazz’s 51 games, 27 have finished over the projected point total.
Meanwhile, Houston owns records of 33-19 SU and 26-26 ATS. Of the Rockets’ 52 games, 29 have finished under the total.
This will be the second game of the season between these two squads. In the first, Eric Gordon scored a game-high 50 points and the Rockets defeated the Jazz 126-117, covering as 14.5-point underdogs. He also recorded six rebounds. The game finished with a total of 243 points, which was 22.5 points above the projected point total of 220.5 points. The Rockets had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (14.3 vs. 5.6) and had a much better free throw rate (0.432 vs. 0.224).
Jazz at Rockets Betting Pick
Pick: ATS Winner – Jazz, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
Utah is 12-14-1 ATS on the road with 14 overs and 13 unders.
Houston is 13-12 ATS at home with 13 overs and 12 unders.
Houston is 3-0 when they hold opponents below 100 points, while Utah is 12-2.
In games where they score more than 100 points, the Jazz are 32-12 and the Rockets are 33-16.
Utah ranks first in assists allowed per game (20.7) while Houston ranks 25th (25.7).
The Jazz rank third in three pointers allowed per game (31.0) while the Rockets rank 26th (35.4).
Houston ranks sixth in points off turnovers per game (18.1) while Utah ranks 28th (14.3).
The Jazz rank fifth in rebounds allowed per game (43.1) while the Rockets rank 26th (46.7).
Houston ranks ninth in steals per game (8.2) while Utah ranks 29th (5.9).
The Rockets rank eighth in fast break points per game (14.4) while the Jazz rank 25th (10.9).
Utah ranks ninth in points allowed in the paint per game (46.2) while Houston ranks 25th (51.4).
The Rockets rank 14th in blocks per game (5.0) while the Jazz rank 28th (4.0).
Houston ranks 17th in second chance points per game (12.9) while Utah ranks 25th (12.0).
Over its last five games, Utah is 0-5 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Houston is 3-2 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs over its last five games.
The Jazz have been outscored by an average of 6.0 points in their last five games. For the season, Utah has defeated opponents by an average of 3.9 points.
During their last five games, the Rockets have scored an average of 116.4 points per game (1.9 below their season average) and allowed an average of 115.6 points per game (0.9 above their season average).
