Portland (5-8) at Houston (10-3)
When: Monday, November 18th, 2019
Where: Toyota Center,
Houston, Texas
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: NBA TV
Opening Odds: Houston -6.5/233
Injuries are taking their toll early-on for the Portland Trail Blazers, but help is on the way in the form of a future Hall of Famer as the team continues their tough road trip. Portland snapped a two-game losing streak with a 121-116 win at San Antonio on Saturday to being a five-game road trip. The Blazers are still just 2-6 straight up in their last eight games and 2-5-1 against the spread over the same period. The club stands at 5-8 on the season – just a year removed from playing the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Portland reached an agreement on a non-guaranteed contract with Carmelo Anthony last week, but he isn’t expected to join the team until Tuesday at the earliest. The Rockets are coming off a 125-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night to earn their seventh straight victory and are 6-1 ATS in that span. The Rockets played in a 317-point game with the Washington Wizards on Oct. 30th, and their totals since then have averaged 233.6 on the betting line. The Under is 8-1 during that same nine-game stretch. The Blazers won and covered the spread in two of the three meetings last season with Houston, including a 104-85 win on the road.
The tough road trip still includes stops in New Orleans tomorrow and Milwaukee later this week and the team can’t afford to fall further back in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Portland’s frontcourt is already missing Zach Collins, Pau Gasol and Jusuf Nurkic to long-term injuries. The Trail Blazers still have stars in the backcourt in CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard, who combined for 54 points in Saturday’s win over the Spurs. Shooting guard Rodney Hood is 15-of-23 from the floor over the last two games, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range. Center Hassan Whiteside is sixth in the league in rebounding (12.2) and recorded 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting with 12 boards on Saturday.
James Harden continues to carry the Rockets with 39.5 points per game despite the presence of Russell Westbrook, who is off to an awful start. The former league MVP is shooting a career-worst 21.8 percent from 3-point land, while Harden is averaging 14.6 3-point attempts and connecting at a 33.2-percent clip. Harden hoisted an NBA season-high 41 shots on Saturday at Minnesota and finished with 49 points – his third straight 40-plus performance. Injuries to Eric Gordon, center Clint Capela (concussion) and small forward Danuel House Jr. (back) are opening opportunities for players down the roster. Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein was brought up from the G League with Capela out and recorded 16 rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench Saturday against the Timberwolves, while rookie guard Chris Clemons drained five 3-pointers. Houston will have a couple of tough road games after this – at Denver and the L.A. Clippers.
These are two teams that are playing at different levels right now and the Rockets are the ones that are soaring. Westbrook will heat-up eventually, but as long as Harden is on the court, Houston is just fine. This isn’t a lot of points to lay here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Monday. He is 17-10 on the season!
Pick: Rockets -6.5
Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Southwest.
Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Trail Blazers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Trail Blazers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
Trail Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Trail Blazers are 0-3-2 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Rockets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Rockets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Rockets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Rockets are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Rockets are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Rockets are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 home games.
Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 6-0 in Trail Blazers last 6 Monday games.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 vs. NBA Southwest.
Over is 8-3 in Trail Blazers last 11 games following a straight up win.
Over is 31-12-2 in Trail Blazers last 45 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 20-8 in Trail Blazers last 28 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 15-7 in Trail Blazers last 22 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-0 in Rockets last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Rockets last 5 Monday games.
Under is 20-7-2 in Rockets last 29 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 20-8 in Rockets last 28 vs. NBA Northwest.
Under is 27-11-2 in Rockets last 40 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 34-16-3 in Rockets last 53 overall.
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Over is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings in Houston.
