San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/22/2018

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Toyota Center to play the Houston Rockets on Saturday, December 22, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 7 point favorites.

The Spurs have a record of 17-15. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.3 as they average 111.2 points per game while giving up 109.9 per contest. The Rockets have an overall record of 16-15 this season. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They average 109.2 points per game and surrender 108.7, good for a point differential of 0.5.

Valuable San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 17-14-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 18-14-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 13-17-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 16-14-0 against the over/under

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

11/11/18 C Pau Gasol Foot is out indefinitely
10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/21/18 PG Chris Paul Hamstring is out indefinitely
12/11/18 SF James Ennis III Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/15/18 SF Carmelo Anthony Possible Trade is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan comes into this contest averaging 23.3 points per game while playing 34.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 85%. LaMarcus Aldridge averages 18.9 points per game in 32.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 9.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 15.6 points per game while playing 33.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per game and has 8.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. James Harden averages 31.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.7 rebounds per contest and 8.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio averages 111.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 44.4 rebounds per game and 24.1 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 29th with 12.0 per game. The Spurs allow 109.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 13th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 23rd and 16th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.5 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 24.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 12.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 20th in the league with 109.2 points per game this year. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 0.5. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 21st in the NBA. They are 28th in the league in rebounding with 40.8 boards per game, and 27th in assists per contest with 21.4. The Rockets are 19th in turnovers per game with 13.8. The Rockets surrender 108.7 points per contest, which ranks them 10th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 21.8 assists allowed per contest and 5th with 42.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 15th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Spurs are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 111.7, and their offensive rating of 113 is ranked 20th. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA. San Antonio is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 10.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 7th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 13th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 8th in the NBA. The Rockets are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 113, and their offensive rating of 113.5 is ranked 26th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 6th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Spurs/Rockets NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -7

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