James Harden and the Houston Rockets seek to tie their longest win streak of the season when they visit Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
The Rockets are soaring up the Western Conference standings thanks to Harden’s MVP-like contributions.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 5 Mar 2:02am | HOU | -3.5 -110 | O +228 -110 |
| Closing 5 Mar 11:37pm | HOU | -3.5 -113 | O +229 -110 |
Houston is on a five-game win streak with its latest victory coming at the expense of the Boston Celtics. The Rockets won 115-104 as 2-point road underdogs but they’re just 2-2-1 against the spread during the winning run.
The club began the season with high hopes after pushing the Golden State Warriors to the brink of elimination in the Western Conference finals last spring. But things didn’t go well for Houston out the gates.
The Rockets opened the campaign just 1-5 straight up in their first six games, and they covered the spread just three times over their first 11 contests. Things have improved as the season has progressed. Houston is 9-3 SU over its last 12 games with wins over the Celtics and Warriors during the stretch.
Toronto is coming off an overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons, but the club is still 8-2 SU in its last 10 games. ATS wins haven’t as easy to come by for the Dinos. The Raptors are just 1-7 against the number in their last eight games.
Twenty-seven of the team’s 46 wins have come on its home court but the squad has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six home games.
Houston Rockets
James Harden has a chance to surpass Michael Jordan’s record for most points averaged per game in a season. MJ averaged 37.1 points per game during the 1986-87 season and Harden is averaging 36.7 ppg this year.
If Harden completes the feat, he’ll own the record for highest-scoring season by player not name Wilt Chamberlain. The Beard has dropped down his scoring rate slightly from his ridiculous rate in January when he averaged better than 43 points per game. Still, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player has scored 110 points in his last two games.
Toronto Raptors
Marc Gasol has taken over the starting centre duties from Serge Ibaka and it doesn’t look like head coach Nick Nurse is going to be switching back. Gasol has started the last two games for the Drakes and filled up the stat sheet in both games.
The hope is the move will help a bench unit in need of a spark. The Raptors’ reserve group lacks the same punch it had a year ago, and the drop is even more pronounced with backup guard Fred VanVleet out with an injury.
Injuries
Kenneth Faried (PF)
Danuel House Jr. (SF)
Austin Rivers (PG)
Clint Capela (C)
Clint Capela (C)
Danuel House Jr. (SF)
Iman Shumpert (SG)
Eric Gordon (SG)
Kenneth Faried (PF)
Eric Gordon (SG)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Jeremy Lin (PG)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Serge Ibaka (C)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Faried (PF) | Ques Fri | Personal - 08 / 05 / 19 | 2-0 | 0-1-1 | + - |
|
Faried is tending to a personal matter and it is unclear if he will play against the Warriors in Game 6 of the Western Conference second round. |
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| Danuel House Jr. (SF) | Ques Fri | Toe - 05 / 05 / 19 | 3-1 | 2-1-1 | + - |
|
House Jr. has inflammation in his right toe and it is unknown if he will be available for Game 6 of the Western Conference second round versus the Warriors. |
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| Austin Rivers (PG) | Prob Tues | Illness - 28 / 04 / 19 | 4-2 | 2-3-1 | + - |
|
Rivers is ailing from an illness but the symptoms are expected to subside in time for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round against the Warriors. |
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| Clint Capela (C) | Prob Wed | Illness - 23 / 04 / 19 | 5-3 | 2-5-1 | + - |
|
Capela is ailing from adenovirus and a klebsiella infection but is likely to play against the Jazz in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| Clint Capela (C) | Prob Sun | Illness - 12 / 04 / 19 | 7-4 | 3-7-1 | + - |
|
Capela is battling an illness but is expected to suit up against the Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| Danuel House Jr. (SF) | Prob Sun | Knee - 07 / 04 / 19 | 9-4 | 4-7-2 | + - |
|
House Jr. is likely to play against the Suns on Sunday despite a left knee contusion. |
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| Iman Shumpert (SG) | Out Wed | Rest - 03 / 04 / 19 | 12-4 | 6-8-2 | + - |
|
Shumpert will not play Wednesday against the Clippers as he will be given the night off to rest. |
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| Eric Gordon (SG) | Prob Thurs | Ankle - 27 / 03 / 19 | 13-5 | 6-10-2 | + - |
|
Gordon is expected to play Thursday against the Nuggets despite a right ankle sprain. |
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| Kenneth Faried (PF) | Prob Tues | Knee - 26 / 03 / 19 | 14-5 | 6-11-2 | + - |
|
Faried is sidelined due to left knee soreness but is likely to return against the Kings on Tuesday. |
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| Eric Gordon (SG) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 25 / 03 / 19 | 14-5 | 6-11-2 | + - |
|
Gordon is battling a sprained right ankle but it is likely he will play Tuesday against the Bucks. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Mon | Face - 08 / 06 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Thurs | Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 | 7-4 | 6-6 | + - |
|
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 | 9-6 | 8-8 | + - |
|
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion. |
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| Jeremy Lin (PG) | Prob Tues | Back - 02 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
|
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Prob Wed | Back - 01 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Ques Mon | Back - 18 / 04 / 19 | 13-8 | 9-13 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers. |
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| Serge Ibaka (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 | 15-9 | 10-15 | + - |
|
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 | 15-10 | 10-15-1 | + - |
|
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Wed | Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 | 18-10 | 12-16-1 | + - |
|
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Fri | Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 | 19-10 | 12-17-1 | + - |
|
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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Rockets vs. Raptors Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 5 Mar 2:02am HOU -3.5 -110 O +228 -110 Closing 5 Mar 11:37pm HOU -3.5 -113 O +229 -110 -
Injuries
Kenneth Faried (PF)
Ques Fri Personal - 08 / 05 / 19Danuel House Jr. (SF)
Ques Fri Toe - 05 / 05 / 19Austin Rivers (PG)
Prob Tues Illness - 28 / 04 / 19Clint Capela (C)
Prob Wed Illness - 23 / 04 / 19Clint Capela (C)
Prob Sun Illness - 12 / 04 / 19Danuel House Jr. (SF)
Prob Sun Knee - 07 / 04 / 19Iman Shumpert (SG)
Out Wed Rest - 03 / 04 / 19Eric Gordon (SG)
Prob Thurs Ankle - 27 / 03 / 19Kenneth Faried (PF)
Prob Tues Knee - 26 / 03 / 19Eric Gordon (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 25 / 03 / 19Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19Jeremy Lin (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19Serge Ibaka (C)
Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kenneth Faried (PF) Ques Fri Personal - 08 / 05 / 19 2-0 0-1-1 + - Faried is tending to a personal matter and it is unclear if he will play against the Warriors in Game 6 of the Western Conference second round.
Danuel House Jr. (SF) Ques Fri Toe - 05 / 05 / 19 3-1 2-1-1 + - House Jr. has inflammation in his right toe and it is unknown if he will be available for Game 6 of the Western Conference second round versus the Warriors.
Austin Rivers (PG) Prob Tues Illness - 28 / 04 / 19 4-2 2-3-1 + - Rivers is ailing from an illness but the symptoms are expected to subside in time for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round against the Warriors.
Clint Capela (C) Prob Wed Illness - 23 / 04 / 19 5-3 2-5-1 + - Capela is ailing from adenovirus and a klebsiella infection but is likely to play against the Jazz in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Clint Capela (C) Prob Sun Illness - 12 / 04 / 19 7-4 3-7-1 + - Capela is battling an illness but is expected to suit up against the Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Danuel House Jr. (SF) Prob Sun Knee - 07 / 04 / 19 9-4 4-7-2 + - House Jr. is likely to play against the Suns on Sunday despite a left knee contusion.
Iman Shumpert (SG) Out Wed Rest - 03 / 04 / 19 12-4 6-8-2 + - Shumpert will not play Wednesday against the Clippers as he will be given the night off to rest.
Eric Gordon (SG) Prob Thurs Ankle - 27 / 03 / 19 13-5 6-10-2 + - Gordon is expected to play Thursday against the Nuggets despite a right ankle sprain.
Kenneth Faried (PF) Prob Tues Knee - 26 / 03 / 19 14-5 6-11-2 + - Faried is sidelined due to left knee soreness but is likely to return against the Kings on Tuesday.
Eric Gordon (SG) Prob Tues Ankle - 25 / 03 / 19 14-5 6-11-2 + - Gordon is battling a sprained right ankle but it is likely he will play Tuesday against the Bucks.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19 2-0 1-2 + - VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 7-4 6-6 + - McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 9-6 8-8 + - Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG) Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF) Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF) Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19 13-8 9-13 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C) Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 15-9 10-15 + - Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 15-10 10-15-1 + - Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 18-10 12-16-1 + - Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 19-10 12-17-1 + - McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.