The free-falling Rockets visit Tampa on Friday night in their first meeting of the season against the Raptors, who will be solid favourites on the NBA odds.
The NBA released its second-half schedule Wednesday and the Raptors will visit Houston on March 22.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Rockets are in transition mode as they traded superstar Russell Westbrook to Washington on the eve of the season for John Wall and dealt James Harden to Brooklyn last month for a bevy of future first-round picks plus guard Victor Oladipo (actually came from Indiana as a byproduct of the Harden trade).
However, Oladipo very well could be dealt by the March 25 Trade Deadline as well. Earlier this week, the team released former All-Star centre DeMarcus Cousins in a surprise – not that the club moved on from him but that he was simply released instead of traded. Houston wants to get younger in the frontcourt and Cousins doesn’t fit long term, but he might have garnered a second-round pick, etc.
Since sweeping the series in the 2017-18 season, Toronto has lost the past three against Houston. The teams played once last year and the Rockets won 119-109 at home. Harden had 23 points, and Westbrook 19 points, 13 rebounds and assists. Pascal Siakam had 24 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort, and Kyle Lowry 19 points and eight assists. Lowry played for Houston for four seasons early in his career.
Toronto is 4-6 straight up and against the spread in the past 10 meetings.
Houston Rockets
Rock-bottom for the 2020-21 Rockets hit Wednesday when they lost a ninth straight and were dominated 112-96 at Cleveland – a horrible team playing the second of a back-to-back. At this point, it sure looks like Houston is trying to lose to improve its NBA Draft lottery position. Oladipo was back Wednesday after missing nearly two weeks with a foot injury and had 17 points and six assists. Wall had 20 points and is having a solid bounce-back season. PJ Tucker had zero points in 31 minutes; he’s all but a lock to be traded, too.
Houston is looking to tie its longest-ever winning streak vs. the Raptors with a fourth straight win in the series. The Rockets have won four of their past five on road vs. Toronto after losing 14 of the previous 19. Of course, none of those were in Tampa. Houston is 6-4 ATS in its past 10 as a road underdog overall.
Toronto Raptors
Lowry returned from injury Wednesday and the Dinos lost 116-108 in Miami. To be fair, that was the second of a back-to-back for the Raptors and the Heat are starting to get rolling. Lowry looked good with 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Fred VanVleet also had 24 points, but Siakam had just five on 1-for-6 shooting in dealing with foul trouble in arguably his worst game of the season. His career-high streak of six straight games with at least five assists also ended.
The All-Star reserves were announced earlier this week, and for the first time since the 2012-13 season the Raptors will not have at least one All-Star. Toronto is 4-6 ATS in its past 10 as a home favourite.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Rockets vs. Raptors?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 25 Feb 9:03pm | HOU | -7.5 -110 | O +219.5 -110 |
| Closing 26 Feb 11:28pm | HOU | -6.5 -110 | O +218 -110 |
- Regular Season
Rockets Team Leaders
| Points |
24.75 |
| Assists |
10.38 |
| Rebounds |
9.63 |
| FG% |
57.6 |
| Steals |
1.8 |
| Blocks |
1.2 |
| Points |
21.36 |
| Assists |
7.35 |
| Rebounds |
7.58 |
| FG% |
100 |
| Steals |
1.67 |
| Blocks |
1.85 |
- Regular Season
Raptors Team Leaders
| Points |
24.75 |
| Assists |
10.38 |
| Rebounds |
9.63 |
| FG% |
57.6 |
| Steals |
1.8 |
| Blocks |
1.2 |
| Points |
21.36 |
| Assists |
7.35 |
| Rebounds |
7.58 |
| FG% |
100 |
| Steals |
1.67 |
| Blocks |
1.85 |
Injuries
Khyri Thomas (SG)
DaQuan Jeffries (SG)
Danuel House Jr. (SF)
Kelly Olynyk (PF)
Avery Bradley (SG)
Kelly Olynyk (PF)
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)
Christian Wood (PF)
D.J. Wilson (PF)
Kyle Lowry (PG)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Kyle Lowry (PG)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Jalen Harris (PG)
Yuta Watanabe (SG)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Kyle Lowry (PG)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Kyle Lowry (PG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khyri Thomas (SG) | Out Sun | Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Thomas exited the last contest with an Achilles injury, and he will not play against the Hawks on Sunday. |
|||||
| DaQuan Jeffries (SG) | Ques Fri | Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21 | 3-0 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Jeffries sat out the previous game with right ankle soreness, and it is undetermined if he will partake in Friday's tilt against the Clippers. |
|||||
| Danuel House Jr. (SF) | Out Sun | Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21 | 4-0 | 4-0 | + - |
|
House Jr. has missed the previous two games with right ankle soreness, and he will not be available Sunday versus the Hawks. |
|||||
| Kelly Olynyk (PF) | Ques Mon | Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21 | 5-0 | 5-0 | + - |
|
Olynyk sat out the last game with an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will suit up Monday versus the Trail Blazers. |
|||||
| Avery Bradley (SG) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 06 / 05 / 21 | 5-1 | 6-0 | + - |
|
Bradley has been absent from the lineup due to a personal reason, and there is no timetable for return. |
|||||
| Kelly Olynyk (PF) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21 | 5-1 | 6-0 | + - |
|
Olynyk is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will participate in Friday's matchup with the Bucks. |
|||||
| Jae'Sean Tate (SF) | Ques Sat | Knee - 05 / 05 / 21 | 5-2 | 7-0 | + - |
|
Tate was held out of the last game with a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Jazz on Saturday. |
|||||
| Kevin Porter Jr. (SG) | Out Sun | Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21 | 5-2 | 7-0 | + - |
|
Porter Jr. has missed the previous four games with a left ankle sprain, and he will not suit up for Sunday's tilt versus the Hawks. |
|||||
| Christian Wood (PF) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21 | 5-2 | 7-0 | + - |
|
Wood is sidelined with quadricep and ankle tightness, and there is no timetable for his return. |
|||||
| D.J. Wilson (PF) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 02 / 05 / 21 | 5-3 | 7-1 | + - |
|
Wilson is going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Lowry (PG) | Out Sun | Rest - 15 / 05 / 21 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Sunday's showdown with the Pacers as he will receive a day of rest. |
|||||
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Out Sun | Rest - 15 / 05 / 21 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
VanVleet will not line up against the Pacers on Sunday as he will be given a day of rest. |
|||||
| Kyle Lowry (PG) | Out Fri | Rest - 14 / 05 / 21 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Friday's showdown with the Mavericks as he will receive a day of rest. |
|||||
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Out Fri | Rest - 14 / 05 / 21 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
VanVleet will not line up against the Mavericks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest. |
|||||
| Jalen Harris (PG) | Doub Fri | Foot - 14 / 05 / 21 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Harris is nursing a foot injury, and he is not expected to dress for Friday's tilt with the Mavericks. |
|||||
| Yuta Watanabe (SG) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 13 / 05 / 21 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Watanabe was held out of the previous game with a foot injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Pacers on Sunday. |
|||||
| Chris Boucher (PF) | Ques Fri | Rest - 12 / 05 / 21 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Boucher missed the last game due to a left knee injury, and it is unknown if he will participate in Friday's contest with the Mavericks. |
|||||
| Kyle Lowry (PG) | Out Thurs | Rest - 12 / 05 / 21 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Thursday's showdown with the Bulls as he will receive a day of rest. |
|||||
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Out Thurs | Rest - 12 / 05 / 21 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet will not line up against the Bulls on Thursday as he will be given a day of rest. |
|||||
| Kyle Lowry (PG) | Out Tues | Rest - 10 / 05 / 21 | 1-3 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Lowry will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Tuesday, as he will be given a day of rest. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 25 Feb 9:03pm HOU -7.5 -110 O +219.5 -110 Closing 26 Feb 11:28pm HOU -6.5 -110 O +218 -110 -
- Regular Season
Rockets Team Leaders
Points 24.75
Assists 10.38
Rebounds 9.63
FG% 57.6
Steals 1.8
Blocks 1.2
Points 21.36
Assists 7.35
Rebounds 7.58
FG% 100
Steals 1.67
Blocks 1.85
-
- Regular Season
Raptors Team Leaders
Points 24.75
Assists 10.38
Rebounds 9.63
FG% 57.6
Steals 1.8
Blocks 1.2
Points 21.36
Assists 7.35
Rebounds 7.58
FG% 100
Steals 1.67
Blocks 1.85
-
Injuries
Khyri Thomas (SG)
Out Sun Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21DaQuan Jeffries (SG)
Ques Fri Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21Danuel House Jr. (SF)
Out Sun Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21Kelly Olynyk (PF)
Ques Mon Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21Avery Bradley (SG)
Out indefinitely Personal - 06 / 05 / 21Kelly Olynyk (PF)
Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21Jae'Sean Tate (SF)
Ques Sat Knee - 05 / 05 / 21Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)
Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21Christian Wood (PF)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21D.J. Wilson (PF)
Out indefinitely Illness - 02 / 05 / 21Kyle Lowry (PG)
Out Sun Rest - 15 / 05 / 21Fred VanVleet (PG)
Out Sun Rest - 15 / 05 / 21Kyle Lowry (PG)
Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21Fred VanVleet (PG)
Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21Jalen Harris (PG)
Doub Fri Foot - 14 / 05 / 21Yuta Watanabe (SG)
Ques Sun Ankle - 13 / 05 / 21Chris Boucher (PF)
Ques Fri Rest - 12 / 05 / 21Kyle Lowry (PG)
Out Thurs Rest - 12 / 05 / 21Fred VanVleet (PG)
Out Thurs Rest - 12 / 05 / 21Kyle Lowry (PG)
Out Tues Rest - 10 / 05 / 21Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Khyri Thomas (SG) Out Sun Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21 2-0 2-0 + - Thomas exited the last contest with an Achilles injury, and he will not play against the Hawks on Sunday.
DaQuan Jeffries (SG) Ques Fri Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21 3-0 3-0 + - Jeffries sat out the previous game with right ankle soreness, and it is undetermined if he will partake in Friday's tilt against the Clippers.
Danuel House Jr. (SF) Out Sun Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21 4-0 4-0 + - House Jr. has missed the previous two games with right ankle soreness, and he will not be available Sunday versus the Hawks.
Kelly Olynyk (PF) Ques Mon Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21 5-0 5-0 + - Olynyk sat out the last game with an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will suit up Monday versus the Trail Blazers.
Avery Bradley (SG) Out indefinitely Personal - 06 / 05 / 21 5-1 6-0 + - Bradley has been absent from the lineup due to a personal reason, and there is no timetable for return.
Kelly Olynyk (PF) Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21 5-1 6-0 + - Olynyk is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will participate in Friday's matchup with the Bucks.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF) Ques Sat Knee - 05 / 05 / 21 5-2 7-0 + - Tate was held out of the last game with a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Jazz on Saturday.
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG) Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21 5-2 7-0 + - Porter Jr. has missed the previous four games with a left ankle sprain, and he will not suit up for Sunday's tilt versus the Hawks.
Christian Wood (PF) Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21 5-2 7-0 + - Wood is sidelined with quadricep and ankle tightness, and there is no timetable for his return.
D.J. Wilson (PF) Out indefinitely Illness - 02 / 05 / 21 5-3 7-1 + - Wilson is going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kyle Lowry (PG) Out Sun Rest - 15 / 05 / 21 1-1 1-1 + - Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Sunday's showdown with the Pacers as he will receive a day of rest.
Fred VanVleet (PG) Out Sun Rest - 15 / 05 / 21 1-1 1-1 + - VanVleet will not line up against the Pacers on Sunday as he will be given a day of rest.
Kyle Lowry (PG) Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21 1-1 1-1 + - Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Friday's showdown with the Mavericks as he will receive a day of rest.
Fred VanVleet (PG) Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21 1-1 1-1 + - VanVleet will not line up against the Mavericks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Jalen Harris (PG) Doub Fri Foot - 14 / 05 / 21 1-1 1-1 + - Harris is nursing a foot injury, and he is not expected to dress for Friday's tilt with the Mavericks.
Yuta Watanabe (SG) Ques Sun Ankle - 13 / 05 / 21 1-2 1-2 + - Watanabe was held out of the previous game with a foot injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Pacers on Sunday.
Chris Boucher (PF) Ques Fri Rest - 12 / 05 / 21 1-2 1-2 + - Boucher missed the last game due to a left knee injury, and it is unknown if he will participate in Friday's contest with the Mavericks.
Kyle Lowry (PG) Out Thurs Rest - 12 / 05 / 21 1-2 1-2 + - Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Thursday's showdown with the Bulls as he will receive a day of rest.
Fred VanVleet (PG) Out Thurs Rest - 12 / 05 / 21 1-2 1-2 + - VanVleet will not line up against the Bulls on Thursday as he will be given a day of rest.
Kyle Lowry (PG) Out Tues Rest - 10 / 05 / 21 1-3 1-3 + - Lowry will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Tuesday, as he will be given a day of rest.