Houston (26-19) at Philadelphia (30-17)
When: Monday, January 21st, 2019
Where: Wells Fargo Center,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -6/233.5
James Harden is doing his best to keep his Houston Rockets floating above water as he waits for teammates Chris Paul and Clint Capela to get healthy again. The Rockets have traded wins and losses for the last nine games and are coming off a win on Saturday as Harden scored over 30 points for the 19th straight time in the wild 138-134 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Houston now heads out on a two-game road trip that begins with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night – broadcast live on TNT. Harden is averaging 54.3 points over the last three games, including 48 as the Rockets rallied from 18 points down in the second half Saturday to take down the Lakers. Houston started the season 11-14, but are just one game out of third place in the Western Conference. Harden was held to an average of 28 points in two games last season against Philadelphia, who snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Rockets with a 115-107 win on October 30th, 2017 as Ben Simmons recorded 24 points and nine assists. The 76ers ended their three-game winning streak on Saturday with a 117-115 setback against Oklahoma City at home as they turned the ball over 17 times. Joel Embiid is 30-of-55 from the field over the last three games, but Jimmy Butler is coming off a 5-of-18 shooting performance Saturday.
While point guard Chris Paul continues to rehab his hamstring injury, Eric Gordon has filled in to score 50 points over the last two games, including 30 against the Lakers with five 3-pointers and four assists. Paul could return as early as this week after missing the last 14 games, but Capela is still going to be sidelined for another four to six weeks. Guard Gerald Green is averaging 15.3 points over the last three games while connecting on 13-of-37 three-pointers.
Embiid may not be producing the points Harden is, but has scored at least 30 in 20 of his first 45 games of a season since – the first Sixer to do that since Allen Iverson (2005-06). Overall, Embiid is averages 27.0 to go along with 13.2 rebounds, which ranks him fourth in the league entering Sunday. Simmons (16.6 points, 9.5 rebounds), who leads Philadelphia in assists (8.2), has scored at least 20 in four of his last five games, while Butler has averaged 19 points since coming over from Minnesota.
Houston can only go as far as Harden can take them, and though that’s enough against sub-.500 teams, it won’t be enough in a road contest against the 76ers. Philadelphia has too many weapons for Houston to handle and they defend the 3-point line well enough to keep the Rockets and Harden from going off.
Pick: 76ers -5
- Rockets are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.
- Rockets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Rockets are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Rockets are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Rockets are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Rockets are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Rockets are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games overall.
- Rockets are 16-35-1 ATS in their last 52 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Rockets are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 road games.
- Rockets are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
- 76ers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- 76ers are 26-10 ATS in their last 36 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- 76ers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss.
- 76ers are 40-19-1 ATS in their last 60 vs. Western Conference.
- 76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
- 76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 11-2 in Rockets last 13 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 12-4 in Rockets last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 10-4 in Rockets last 14 Monday games.
- Over is 20-8 in Rockets last 28 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 20-8 in Rockets last 28 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Rockets last 10 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Over is 13-6 in Rockets last 19 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 40-19-2 in Rockets last 61 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 8-3-1 in 76ers last 12 Monday games.
- Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 home games.
- Over is 10-4 in 76ers last 14 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 12-5 in 76ers last 17 games following a ATS loss.
- Home team is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
- Rockets are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
- Underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
- Rockets are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Philadelphia.
