NBA Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets
The Boston Celtics (25-9) take on the Houston Rockets (22-11) when they clash on Friday, January 3 at 8:00 PM ET at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Check out our Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets betting preview, which shows the Celtics slightly favored with a -2.5 (-110 MYBOOKIE) point spread.
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
The Celtics have won two out of their last three games and are coming off a 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have now won two straight, with a tough road performance now behind them and they must try and do it against the Rockets.
Jayson Tatum led the team in several key categories, such as 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Derrick White added 26 points and shot 50.0 percent from the field (5-10 from deep) to make an impact offensively.
They will potentially be without Jaylen Brown, who averages 24.4 points a game. Kristaps Porzingis (18.3 PPG) has been ruled out, so missing both of these players will be key in specific lineup rotations and production on both ends of the floor.
The Celtics are fourth in the league on offense, averaging 119.6 points a game. Defensively they rank seventh in holding teams to 108.9 points a game. This is a solid margin of victory, but likely when they are healthy.
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
The Rockets had a tough road win recently over the Dallas Mavericks in a 110-99 battle, as the Mavs were without Luka Doncic. This snapped their two-game losing streak, both of which were decided by four points or less.
Alperen Sengun led with 23 points on 56.0 percent shooting from the field and six rebounds. Jalen Green was right next to him with 22 points of his own to compliment their offense. Together these two will need to be aggressive early to establish momentum for the offense.
Their offense was slightly weaker compared to the Mavs at 47.2 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from deep. However, their defense forced the Mavs into 20 turnovers (while having 14 themselves) and made a positive impact to their team.
The Rockets are putting up 112.9 points a game and rank 12th in the league. Defensively they have given up 106.4 points a game, which ranks third. This is a good margin, but they must stay consistent on offense.
Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick
MyBookie has you set for the Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets betting odds. Current odds show the Celtics as 2.5-point favorites, while market insights suggest the Rockets have a 51.0 percent chance of winning.
The Celtics are 12-3 on the road, while the Rockets are 12-4 at home. If the Celtics are still a bit beat up, the Rockets definitely have a good shot at covering the spread.
Final Pick: Houston Rockets +2.5 (-110)
