San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets Expert NBA Picks Against the Spread 3/22/2019

Friday, March 22, 2019

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 Friday, March 22, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 8 point favorites.

The Spurs head into this matchup with a mark of 42-30. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.5 as they average 111.8 points per contest while giving up 110.3 per game. The Rockets have an overall mark of 45-27. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They total 113.2 points per contest and give up 110.1, which is a point differential of 3.1.

Valuable San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 40-31-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 40-32-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 33-37-2 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 36-35-0 against the over/under

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

03/20/19 F Kenneth Faried Knee is questionable Friday vs San Antonio

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan comes into this contest averaging 21.5 points per game while playing 35.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 83%. LaMarcus Aldridge averages 21.1 points per game in 33.0 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.4 assists per contest and 9.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 52% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 15.6 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per game and has 8.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. James Harden averages 36.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 37.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.5 rebounds per contest and 7.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio averages 111.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.5 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 44.5 rebounds per game and 24.4 assists per game, which ranks them 22nd and 16th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 30th with 12.1 per game. The Spurs allow 110.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 19th and 25th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 8th and they give up 24.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 19th place in the league. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 11th in the league with 113.2 points per game this year. They are 25th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.1. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They are 28th in the league in rebounding with 41.5 boards per game, and 28th in assists per contest with 21.1. The Rockets are 24th in turnovers per game with 13.7. The Rockets surrender 110.1 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 23.4 assists allowed per contest and 16th with 45.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 22nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.2 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Spurs are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 111.4, and their offensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 20th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 7th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA. San Antonio is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 21st in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 10th in the league. The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.9, and their defensive rating of 111.8 is ranked 21st. In terms of pace they are 28th in the league with 97.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 4th. As a team they are 3rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 52% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -8

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