Houston (38-20) at Boston (41-17)
When: Saturday, February 29th, 2020
Where: TD Garden,
Boston, MA
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Boston -1
The Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets are two of the NBA’s hottest teams right now and could possibly meet in the NBA Finals, but first, they have one more regular season matchup against each other. It will come on Saturday night on ABC’s Showcase game from TD Garden in Boston. The first meeting took place earlier this month in Houston in which the Rockets won 116-105 as 2.5-point favorites. The Celtics come into this contest as slight one-point favorites – so it’s basically a Pickem. The Rockets are on a roll as they’ve won five in a row and covered the spread in four of those games. They’ve been pretty good to backers lately, covering the spread in seven of their last 10 overall. Road games are always tough in the NBA but they’re 17-12 in away games, but just 14-15 ATS. Former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined 63 points on 24-of-40 shooting, 16 rebounds, 11 assists and five steals in a 140-112 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday to remain in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Celtics are 23-5 at home but they haven’t spent much time there lately. Only one of their last eight was at home, but have still won seven straight at TD Garden. Boston has won 14 of its last 17 games overall to keep the pressure on the Toronto Raptors for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference and is coming home for the first time since the All-Star break after a 3-1 trip out west that featured rising superstar Jayson Tatum averaging 34.5 points on 56.6 percent shooting. The only bad news for Boston is All-Star point guard Kemba Walker missed the road trip with a knee injury and is doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Much was made about the Rockets new small-ball lineup when they lost two of their first three after trading away center Clint Capela. However, it’s been smooth sailing since and Westbrook seems to be benefiting from it the most. They’ve won five games in a row and their offense has been on fire, averaging 126.8 points per game in that span with their lowest output being the 116 they scored on Boston. Over the last seven games, Westbrook is averaging 32.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Westbrook picked up his NBA-high 14th technical foul in the win over Memphis and is two away from a one-game suspension. Houston will conclude their short two-game trip at Madison Square Garden versus the New York Knicks on Monday.
The Celtics only two losses in their last 13 games have come to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are currently favored to win the NBA championship, and the aforementioned Rockets. The key to their success has been the play of Tatum, who is averaging an incredible 31.1 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field over his last 10. He’s also adding in 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals. He wasn’t good in the first meeting with the Rockets, scoring just 15 points on 33 percent shooting in that contest. The Celtics also had 18 turnovers in the first meeting. They average 13.1 on the season, which is eighth in the league. Guard Marcus Smart averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 assists while starting in Walker’s place and recorded multiple steals in each of the last three games. Boston will remain home and host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
This should be a fun contest in primetime as both teams have been red-hot. Boston has been terrific at home and have the defense to at least slow down Harden and Westbrook enough to earn a win here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Saturday. He is 67-52-3 on the season after a 8-1 run!
Pick: Celtics -1.5
Rockets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.
Rockets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Rockets are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games playing on 2 days rest.
Rockets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Rockets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
Rockets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.
Rockets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog.
Rockets are 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Celtics are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite.
Celtics are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
Celtics are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-2 in Rockets last 11 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 road games.
Under is 18-6-2 in Rockets last 26 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 11-5 in Rockets last 16 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 24-11 in Rockets last 35 games as a road underdog.
Under is 41-20-1 in Rockets last 62 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games as a favorite.
Under is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 19-7 in Celtics last 26 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 9-4 in Celtics last 13 Saturday games.
Under is 21-10 in Celtics last 31 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.
Under is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings in Boston.
