Free NBA Pick: Thursday February 26, 2009

Gambling911.com's free NBA pick for Thursday February 26, 2009 is a good one - Houston as the +3 ½ underdog versus Cleveland at SBG Global. 

Why the Rockets? 

Houston using the money line in home games the second half of the season is 24-3 over the last two seasons.  Very impressive.   Likewise, Houston is 7-3 over the last 10 in this series.

The Houston Rockets are playing their best basketball of the season, having won five straight games. "Our record doesn't show it, but we're starting to show the type of team we are," Ron Artest said, "We're starting to come together." Artest has averaged 20.2 points per game recently and the Rockets are now 16-6 without the injured Tracy McGrady in the starting lineup.  Houston faces another team playing well on Thursday night as they host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland has also won their last five games. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Cavaliers on the Road.

Cleveland has been fantastic at home this season but only so-so on the road. They have a very tough road trip beginning tonight in Houston. The Cavaliers will also face San Antonio, Atlanta and Miami on this trip.  They will also go to Boston late next week.  The Cavaliers have won seven of their last nine games on the road.

The Cavaliers could be without starting guard Delonte West on Thursday. "As far as I know, it's a maintenance thing," head coach Mike Brown said. "He had his wrist immobilized for a few weeks. It might be something he has to deal with (the rest of the season.)" The Cavaliers got 19 points out of guard Daniel Gibson on Tuesday. "I told him it was about time he started making shots," James said, "We need that out of him."

The Rockets have won 17 of the last 20 home games against Cleveland.  Here are more NBA betting stats for Thursday's game. The Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Southwest. The Cavaliers are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 vs. the Western Conference. The Cavaliers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games. The Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Houston.

The Rockets are 25-9-3 ATS in their last 37 Thursday games. The Rockets are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 home games. The Rockets are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Central. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings between the two teams.

SBG Global Current Line: Cavaliers  - 2.5  ,  Total  185.5
The Under is 5-2 in the Cavaliers last 7 overall. The Over is 6-0 in the Rockets last 6 Thursday games. The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Houston between the two teams.

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