Sign In $
NBA

NBA Betting Odds, Picks & Preview for Thursday – Clippers at Rockets

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

Rockets vs. Clippers Betting Odds and Expert Pick

Two of the last three NBA MVP Award winners will lead the Houston Rockets into Thursday night’s clash with Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard and the Clippers are rounding into form, as Paul George and last year’s NBA Finals MVP are starting to develop a real connection.

James Harden and Russell Westbrook have been more effective than anyone expected too, making the Rockets a contender in the Western Conference race once more.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets
Date and Time: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 8:05 p.m. ET
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
NBA Betting Online Odds at FOX Bet: Houston -1, O/U 237
Rockets vs. Clippers TV Coverage: TNT

Betting Lines provided by FoxBet (NJ and PA only, T&C's Apply, 21+)

Kawhi and the Clippers Will Face the Red Hot Rockets on Thursday Night

This is the fourth time that the Clippers and Rockets have squared off this season. Houston won two of the three previous meetings, but these teams haven’t played since December 19. The Rockets have covered all three games per the NBA betting odds, and the last two games went over the total.

The Clippers have covered four of their last five games coming into Thursday night’s clash with the Rockets. Meanwhile, Houston has failed to cover the number in three of its last four games. The over has cashed in five of the last six meetings between these teams.

Bet Now (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Odds Subject to Change (T&C's Apply, 21+)

Houston Rockets Current Form

Nearly every NBA writer or analyst scratched their head when Daryl Morey dealt Clint Capela to bring in Robert Covington as part of a four-team deal. Many dismissed the Rockets as contenders, but this team has proven all the naysayers wrong over the last few weeks. Houston has now won six of its last seven games, and everyone has learned to never doubt Morey.

Los Angeles Clippers Current Form

The Los Angeles Clippers currently boast the longest winning streak in the NBA. The Clippers have reeled off five straight wins since a disappointing loss to the Kings on February 22, and their last three wins have come against teams that will be playing in the postseason.

Those victories have moved them ahead of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but a familiar threat is rising in the Houston Rockets.

Rockets to Watch

Harden is leading the league in scoring with 34.9 PPG. He has been the most effective player on the league on offense, leading every other player save Giannis Antetokuonmpo in Offensive Real Plus/Minus, and he is not afraid to shoot from anywhere on the court. The 2018 NBA MVP is taking 12.8 threes per game, and he is getting to the foul line almost 12 times an outing.

The 2017 NBA MVP has been excellent with the ball too. There were concerns over whether Harden and Westbrook could share the workload, but they have proven they can do just that. Westbrook is taking almost as many shots as Harden each game, and he is making 47.3 percent of his field goals. Unfortunately, he continues to struggle from beyond the arc, making just 25.3 percent of his threes.

Clippers to Watch

Leonard continues to show why resting players in the regular season is a good idea. He has missed 13 games in an effort to enter the playoffs refreshed while still in fine form, and he is emulating what we saw happen in Toronto last year. Leonard is filling the stat sheet by averaging 27.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 5.1 APG, and he is kicking things up a notch on defense.

The Clippers have three excellent defenders, but only one is given real attention by the general public. Everyone knows that Leonard can lock down a star on another team, but Patrick Beverley and Ivica Zubac are rated in the top six in the league in Defensive Real Plus/Minus. Beverley is rated the second-best defender in the league behind Rudy Gobert.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets Selection Summary

Will the fourth time be the charm for Clippers bettors? We think so. While most teams haven’t been able to figure out how to attack the Rockets with an undersized center, Doc Rivers will have something ready for the occasion tonight.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Free Pick and Score Prediction

Los Angeles +1
Los Angeles 123, Houston 115

Bet Now (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Odds Subject to Change (T&C's Apply, 21+)

Nba News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•