Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets - 1/3/20 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Philadelphia 76ers vs Houston Rockets

Date: Friday, January 3, 2020

Location: Toyota Center in Houston, TX

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -4

Total/Over-Under: 224

Tobias Harris and the Philadelphia 76ers (23-13, 3rd in the Atlantic Division) travel to Toyota Center on Friday where they'll meet the Houston Rockets (23-11, 1st in the Southwest Division). Philadelphia opens this contest as 4 point dogs. The total opens at 224.

The 76ers are covering the spread 46.9% of the time, having gone 15-17-4 ATS. Houston is covering the spread 50.0% of the time, going 17-17-0 against the spread.

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

12/31/19 PF Joel Embiid Knee is questionable

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Ben Simmons averages 14.5 points per contest in 35.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 8.5 assists per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 56% for the season while his free throw percentage is 59%. Tobias Harris comes into this game averaging 19.4 points per contest while playing 34.1 minutes per night. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 24.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 35.3 minutes per game. He also hauls in 8.0 rebounds per game and dishes 7.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 80%. James Harden scores 38.2 points per contest while playing 37.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.8 rebounds per contest and has 7.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The 76ers allow 105.4 points per contest which is 6th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 13th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 40.4 rebounds a game which ranks 1st, and they allow 22.0 assists per game which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Philadelphia averages 109.6 points per contest, which is 17th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 4.1 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 11th in the NBA. They average 46.2 boards per contest and 26.4 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 11th with 15.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets give up 114.0 points per game, which ranks them 22nd in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 19th and 15th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 25.9 dimes allowed per game and 17th with 45.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Rockets are 21st in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.6 per contest. Houston is 2nd in the NBA with 119.4 points per contest this season. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.4. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 5th in the NBA in rebounding with 47.1 boards per contest and 26th in assists per game with 21.6. The Rockets are 18th in turnovers per contest with 15.0.

Advanced Statistics

The 76ers are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 105.4, and their offensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 6th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 8th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA. Philadelphia is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 18th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 20th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 13th in the NBA. The Rockets are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 109.6, and their offensive rating of 114.8 is ranked 16th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 103.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Houston -4 and over 224 total points

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