Posted on
3/20/2008 3:30:38 PM
NBA Basketball Betting Hornets Want to Hand Rockets Second Straight Loss
By Eric Williams
Just as I predicted in the BetUS.com Locker Room yesterday, the Houston Rockets, (46-20 SU, 40-25-1 ATS, 28-37-1 O/U), had their 22-game winning streak emphatically snapped by the Boston Celtics last night, losing 94-74 despite being at home against the C’s.
"We've had an unbelievable run, but that's over with right now," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman, whose team plays its next three games against New Orleans, Golden State and Phoenix. "We have to forget about this and move ahead to New Orleans. It's a matter of us responding."
Tonight, the New Orleans Hornets, (45-21 SU, 40-25-1 ATS, 31-33-2 O/U), will be looking to hand the Rockets consecutive defeats for the first time since Jan. 13-15 when the Rockets fell to the Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers, in back-to-back contests that were both played on their home floor.
While the Rockets enter this matchup coming off their first loss in two months, the Hornets come in off a spectacular 108-97 win over the lowly Chicago Bulls on Monday as all-star point guard Chris Paul scored 37 points and handed out 13 assists.
"It was all Chris Paul," Hornets center Tyson Chandler said of his point guard, who's averaging 25.8 points, 13.6 assists and shooting 59.1 percent from the field in nine games this month.
The Rockets have covered the spread in the BetUS.com Sportsbook in eight of their last ten games but just once in their last three outings while New Orleans has covered the spread in seven of ten and three of their last four.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my analysis and NBA Free Picks.
The Rockets are 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600.
The Rockets are 5-0 ATS in their last five vs. NBA Southwest.
The Hornets are 4-1 ATS in their last five vs. Western Conference.
The Hornets are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall.
The Under is 5-1 in Rockets last six road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600.
The Over is 6-1 in Hornets last seven Wednesday games.
The Rockets are 8-3 ATS in the last eleven meetings in New Orleans.
The Rockets are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Analysis: This game is going to be nothing less than an all-out dogfight that should come down to the final possession or two of the contest. In the end, I say take the Hornets to continue their winning ways by handing the Rockets their second consecutive loss although I must admit that the best wager for this matchup may be to take the ‘Over’.
NBA Free Picks: New Orleans -4 Points/Over 185½ Total Points
08:05 PM EST
Houston Rockets +4 -110
New Orleans Hornets -4 -110
Over 185½ -110
Under 185½ -110
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