The Memphis Grizzlies travel to Space City to take on the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference Showdown on Monday 12/3/118 at the Toyota Center.
These teams are trending different directions with Memphis losing seven out of their last 10 games and Houston losing just once in their last 10 outings. The Grizzlies are coming off a 103-112 loss to the Boston Celtics while the Rockets are fresh off a 108-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Memphis Grizzlies saw their two game winning streak end at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. It was a tough loss for the Grizzlies who blew a 19 point second half lead in the game as Kyrie Irving and Al Horford rallied the Celtics to a 112-103 win in Memphis. Memphis fell to 18-17 SU overall and 10-7 SU at home this season.
The Grizzlies are the second lowest scoring team in the league at just 101.8 points per game. However, they also allow the second fewest points at 102.0 points per game. Memphis is also ranked 20th in passing with 23.1 assists per game and dead least in rebounding at 39.4 boards per contest.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Houston Rockets 12/31/18
Moneyline Odds: Grizzlies +190 (-109) , Rockets -220
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/31/18
The Houston Rockets recently lost point guard Chris Paul to injury but in his absence, James Harden has stepped up big time and is on fire right now. Harden had 41 points and 6 assists against the Pelicans to become the first played since Oscar Robertson to record seven straight games with at least 35 points and 5 assists per game. Harden has scored at least 40 points in each of his last three games, all of which the Rockets have won.
The Rockets are averaging 109.8 points per game while allowing opponents to score 108.5 points per game. Those stats are ranked 19th and 11th, respectively in the entire league. Houston is also 27th in assists at only 21.1 dimes per contest while the team is ranked 26th off the glass with an average of 42.0 rebounds per game.
The Grizzlies are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played. Memphis is 8-10 SU on the road this season. The Rockets are red hot, going 9-1 SU in their last 10 games. The Rockets are an impressive 12-5 SU in 17 home games played this season. Head to head, the Rockets are 6-4 SU in their last 10 meetings.
Memphis is the second lowest scoring team in the NBA and that’s going to be a problem against a Houston squad that’s having James Harden playing in one of the best stretches of his career. The Grizzlies are a very good defensive team but I don’t think they have someone in particular who can put the handcuffs of the reigning MVP.
Houston has won seven in a row at home and should have no problem in taking care of the Grizzlies who outside of Mike Conley don’t have a consistent scoring option. Marc Gasol continues to struggle in the low block and Capela should control the boards and dominate the paint. I think the Rockets run away with this one.
We’re picking the Houston Rockets to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on 12/31/18.
Memphis is 17-17 ATS on the season and the Grizzlies are 8-10 ATS in 18 road games played this season. Houston is 16-17-1 ATS in 34 games played this season. The Rockets are 6-11 ATS at home this season. Head to head, the Rockets are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Houston Rockets 12/31/18
Spread Odds: Grizzlies +5 (-109), Rockets -5 (-109)
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/31/18
Houston is 4-0 ATS after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game. The Rockets are also 7-0 ATS when their opponent allows more than 100 points in their previous game. The Rockets offense has picked up in the last 10 games as they’ve averaged over 113 points per game. Houston has won 9 of those games by an average winning margin of 9.22 points per game.
Prediction: Rockets -5
The total has gone under in 13 out of 34 games played by the Grizzlies this season. The total has gone under in 12 out of Memphis’ 18 road games played this season. The Rockets have seen the over go 18-15-1 in their season. The over is 10-6-1 in 17 home games played by Houston this season. The total has gone under in six out of the last ten meetings between these two teams.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Houston Rockets 12/31/18
Over/Under Odds: Over 200.5 -109, Under 200.5 -109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/31/18
The trends point to the under here and the Grizzlies’ offensive woes are glaring. They have averaged just 97.4 points per game in their last 10 games and have scored at least 100 points in just two of those games. However, the Rockets have averaged 113.5 points per game in their last 10 games played. Given how the Rockets’ offense has picked up as of late, I think these teams can top the low total of 200 set for this game.
Prediction: Over 200.5
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