Sportsbook.ag Wednesday NBA Betting Preview: Grizzlies vs. Rockets
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (8-7) at HOUSTON ROCKETS (5-9) - The line on this game was set at Houston -3, Total: 196
The Rockets will be looking to avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Memphis got off to a poor start this season, but the team has turned things around with wins in five of its past six contests. The Grizzlies have covered in four of their past five and will be looking to win their second straight game against a Houston team that they defeated by 12 on Nov. 20.
The Rockets, meanwhile, have lost two straight games and six of their past seven. They have also failed to cover in seven straight games and will desperately need to turn things around with a home victory on Wednesday.
Memphis has gotten the best of this series over the past three seasons, going 5-4 both SU and ATS against Houston. The Grizzlies have even split victories both SU and ATS when playing the Rockets at the Toyota Center.
One thing favoring Memphis in this game is the fact that this Houston team is 0-7 ATS as a home favorite this season. The Rockets are, however, 14-4 ATS in home games after a non-conference game over the past two seasons. PF Zach Randolph (Knee) is questionable for the Grizzlies, who are already without PF Brandan Wright (Knee) and SG Jordan Adams (Knee) indefinitely. The Rockets will be without SF Sam Dekker (Back) and PF Donatas Motiejunas (Back) indefinitely, and PG Patrick Beverley (Ankle) is questionable for Wednesday.
The Grizzlies are coming off of a win over the Mavericks on Tuesday and C Marc Gasol (15.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 4.3 APG) had 15 points, 10 boards, four assists and two blocks in the victory. Gasol had a triple-double (16 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) the last time he faced Houston and will need to put forth a similar effort on Wednesday. Memphis will either be playing without Zach Randolph or with Randolph not at 100%, so it’s imperative that Gasol anchors the paint on both ends.
PG Mike Conley (15.3 PPG, 6.5 APG, 1.3 SPG) has been extremely aggressive for Memphis over the past few weeks, averaging 21.0 PPG and 6.4 APG over the past five contests. He is shooting 54.5% from the outside in that span and he is another guy that will be counted on to step it up if Randolph can’t go on Wednesday. He had 26 points the last time he faced the Rockets and should be able to get it going again, especially if Patrick Beverley is out for Houston
The Rockets have been playing some miserable basketball this season and a lot of that has to do with SG James Harden (27.9 PPG, 6.4 APG, 6.2 RPG, 2.0 SPG). Harden is putting up good numbers once again, but he is shooting just 38% from the field and 27.1% from the outside. He is going to need to start knocking down shots at a higher clip moving forward or his team will not be able to turn things around and sneak back into the playoff picture.
C Dwight Howard (13.8 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 2.0 BPG) will also need to play very well if this team is going to turn things around. Howard had 12 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks against the Grizzlies two games ago and should be well rested for this game after sitting out in the Rockets’ loss to New York. He will need to hold his own against Marc Gasol and it’d be wise if he were more aggressive shooting the basketball. He is only attempting 8.9 field goals per game, a mark that absolutely needs to go up.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
