Bulls vs. Rockets Betting Line – Mavs vs. Warriors Betting Line
Carrie Stroup here with both your Bulls vs. Rockets and Mavs vs. Warriors betting lines.
Sportsbook.ag Line: Houston -3.5, Total: 204.5
The Chicago Bulls continue their road trip when they visit the Houston Rockets this Wednesday night.
Chicago haven’t quite lived up to expectations so far this year and they are currently in the middle of a tough six-game road trip with the first five contests being against the West. They kicked the trip off with a bang, taking down the Golden State Warriors in an exciting OT time game by a score of 113-111 as big 11.5-point underdogs, but have lost their last two games following the upset victory. First they went to L.A. and took a disappointing 123-118 OT loss as 9.5-point favorites against the Lakers and then were defeated by six (99-93) when facing the Suns on Friday. The Bulls were getting seven points in the game, so they were able to cover, but could not get their shot down, hitting a mere 36-of-87 field goals (41.4% FG), 4-of-18 threes (22.2% 3PM) and 17-of-27 free throws (63% FT).
Meanwhile, the Rockets have been tearing it up and are coming off a stretch of six games where they played five on the road, going 4-2 SU (3-3 ATS) in that time. It hasn’t been the offense that is winning them games though, as they’ve scored 97 PPG in their last three wins, but are allowing opponents to net a meager 89.3 PPG in the same span In its most recent matchup, Houston fell apart as four-point favorites on the road against the Pistons, losing 114-101 as Detroit hit half of its shots (41-of-82) and made it to the line 35 times; nailing just 22 (63% FT), but still getting plenty more points from the charity stripe than the Rockets (12).
Overall, Chicago has been a solid road team, going 17-8 SU (14-11 ATS) when away from home as they face a Houston club which is 16-7 SU (14-9 ATS) when playing for its hometown crowd. These clubs met about a month ago in Chicago when the Bulls took down a nice 114-105 win as three-point favorites. It was their tremendous shooting (48.2% FG) that propelled them to the victory as they also added 27 made free throws on 30 attempts (90% FT). Overall, Houston has a slight 3-2 SU and ATS edge in this series dating back to the start of the 2012-13 season and won 109-94 last time it played at home against this opponent.
Trends show that Chicago is 89-63 ATS (59%) off two or more consecutive road losses since 1996 and the Rockets are a perfect 7-0 ATS in home games after a non-conference contest this year. On the injury front, SF Mike Dunleavy (Ankle) could be out until after the All-Star break for the Bulls and C Dwight Howard (Knee) is out indefinitely on the Rockets’ side of the ball.
Chicago’s offense has shown a lot of improvement this season as it’s climbed to ninth in the league with 102.1 PPG behind 44.3% shooting from the floor (11th-worst in league). Unfortunately, their once shut-down defense has fallen off and is allowing 99.9 PPG (12th-worst in league) on 44.2% shooting (10th in league).
PF Pau Gasol (18.2 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.2 BPG) has recorded a double-double in each of his past nine performances as he has added 13 blocks in his last four games (3.3 BPG). He’ll be happy to see the Rockets again after walking all over them for 27 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting this year.
SG Jimmy Butler (20.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG) has developed into one of the best offensive players in the league as he utilizes the free throw line where he has the second-most points in the NBA (283). His game in the win over Houston in January was pretty much the norm for him this year as he went 41 minutes and scored 22 points with five rebounds and three steals.
PG Derrick Rose (18.6 PPG, 4.9 APG) has been forcing the ball up a ton this season and has really struggled of late, making a mere 36% of his shots over the past five games. He had a solid overall game (19 points, 9 assists, 2 steals) against the Rockets about a month ago but still had issues with his efficiency (6-for-17 FG).
Houston has been one of the more prolific offensive units over the past few years and this campaign has been no different as it nets 102.7 PPG (7th in league), but makes just 43.9% of its shots (9th-worst in league). They have been happy with their defense performance as well, giving up 99.0 PPG (12th in league) with the opposition making 44.2% of their shots.
SG James Harden (27.0 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.6 RPG, 2.0 SPG) is putting up MVP numbers this year and despite his huge game (26 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) against Detroit, the team failed to gain a victory on Saturday. His play will be a key factor in this one after he hit just 7-of-22 shots for 20 points and added four assists with two blocks in the loss to Chicago this year.
SF Trevor Ariza (12.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.9 SPG) continues to play a ton of minutes (35.4 MPG over last five games) but has made a meager 37% of his shots this year and is just 9-for-32 (28%) from behind the arc over the last five games. He had no chance against the Bulls’ defense in the January loss, going 3-for-11 with seven points, but he added solid secondary numbers (6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks).
PF Donatas Motiejunas (11.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG) has provided the team with a solid option as a big man with Howard out so often and he has lit it up over the last two contests, making 21-of-29 attempts (72%) for 23.5 PPG. He also played a large role when these two clubs last met, scoring 16 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (33-17) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (38-8)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Golden State -9, Total: 217
The Mavericks look to win their fourth straight game with a road victory over the Warriors on Wednesday.
The Mavericks have had their struggles recently (3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS in past seven games), but a 100-94 victory as 10-point home favorites against the Timberwolves on Monday gave them their third straight victory. Where this team has really played well over the course of the streak is on the defensive end, allowing just 86.3 PPG in that span.
Golden State is clicking on both ends over the course of their two-game SU and ATS winning streak. Golden State hosted Sacramento on Tuesday and won 121-96 as 10-point favorites. The team is now averaging 113.5 PPG and allowing just 91.5 PPG over its past two contests.
The Warriors have played Dallas just once this season, winning 105-98 as one-point road favorites on Dec. 13. PG Rajon Rondo was not yet on the Mavericks at that point, but he won’t be able to play in this game anyway (facial fracture). The Warriors have won four straight games SU in this series and they’ve covered in three of those contests. The Mavericks have not played well at Oracle Arena in recent years, losing three straight games and five of their past six SU. Yet, Dallas is 3-1 ATS in its past four meetings with Golden State in Oakland and three straight games played between these teams at Oracle have gone Under the total.
The Mavericks are 26-10 ATS in road games in the second half of the season over the past three seasons, but are facing a Warriors team that is 15-3 ATS after scoring 60 points or more in the first half of their previous game this season. As referenced to earlier, Rajon Rondo is out indefinitely for the Mavericks and backup PG Devin Harris (Knee) is questionable for Dallas. The Warriors will be without C Festus Ezeli (Ankle) and could opt to sit C Andrew Bogut (Rest) in the second night of their back-to-back.
The Mavericks have won three straight games, but they now face problems with an injury-filled backcourt. PG Rajon Rondo (8.7 PPG, 8.7 APG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG) is out indefinitely and PG Devin Harris (8.3 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG) is questionable as well. That means that an offense that is scoring 106.8 PPG (2nd in NBA) and dishing out 23.2 APG (8th in NBA) could rely on PG J.J. Barea (7.1 PPG, 3.2 APG) to play extended minutes. Barea played very well in a win over the Timberwolves on Monday, finishing with 10 points, eight assists and four rebounds in 29 minutes of action. He’ll need to attack the rim like he always does and he’ll also need to hold his own on the defensive end.
With the injuries at point guard, SG Monta Ellis (20.5 PPG, 4.6 APG) could see even more time as Dallas’ primary ball handler. Ellis is capable of doing the job, as he’s now averaging 22.4 PPG and 5.6 APG over the past five contests. He has three games with 10+ assists this season, so he is capable of running this offense with Rondo out. Ellis had 24 points (8-for-22 FG) and five assists in the first meeting between these teams this season and he should be pumped up to play in the arena he called home for nearly seven seasons.
PF Dirk Nowitzki (18.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG) will need to find his stroke from inside the three-point line for the Mavericks or it’ll be tough for them to keep winning games. He’s been off from everywhere but downtown lately, averaging just 12.8 PPG (43% FG, 46% 3PT) and 5.4 RPG in 29.0 MPG over the past five games. Nowitzki had 23 points and eight rebounds against the Warriors earlier in the season and will need to do a lot of the same on Wednesday. With Ellis likely to take on a bigger role as a distributor, it will be up to Nowitzki and SF Chandler Parsons (15.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG) to be more aggressive as scorers. Parsons had 18 points, six rebounds and four steals in 35 minutes in his return from an illness against Minnesota. He should thrive in what is likely to be a high-scoring, up-tempo affair at Oracle Arena.
C Tyson Chandler (10.6 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG) will be in for a battle with C Andrew Bogut (6.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.8 BPG) in this one. He’ll need to be strong in the paint, give the Mavericks second chances on offense and also protect the rim defensively. Bogut didn’t play in the first meeting between these teams, and his presence will change the way the Mavericks operate on both ends.
The Warriors have now won two straight games after a dominating 121-96 road victory over the Kings on Tuesday. PG Stephen Curry (23.0 PPG, 8.2 APG, 4.7 RPG, 2.2 SPG) had 23 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals in just 29 minutes against Sacramento. He should be able to light up the Mavericks, who are extremely shorthanded at the point guard position. He had 29 points, eight assists and two steals in a victory in Dallas on Dec. 13. He’ll now face the Mavericks without Rajon Rondo once again and J.J. Barea will really struggle to cover him due to his lack of size.
SG Klay Thompson (22.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG) had 25 points, five rebounds and three assists in 41 minutes the first time these teams played this season. His size makes it very tough for Monta Ellis to cover him and he’ll look to use it to his advantage once again in this contest.
Another player who was very good in the last meeting between these teams was SF Draymond Green (11.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6 SPG). Green played 37 minutes in that game and finished with 20 points (5-for-8 FG, 2-for-3 3PT, 8-for-10 FT) and eight rebounds in what was an extremely efficient performance. He is extremely tough to cover, as he is too big for opposing small forwards and too quick for opposing power forwards. He is struggling as a scorer with just 8.0 PPG over his last three contests.
PF David Lee (9.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG) returning from injury has taken away from his minutes. Lee could play a huge role in this game if the Warriors opt to rest Andrew Bogut, but there are no signs of them doing so at the moment. Bogut is this team’s most important player defensively and without him they are not the elite team that they have proven to be throughout the first half the season. Bogut’s presence will make it extremely difficult for Tyson Chandler to tip out offensive rebounds to his teammates and it will also take away a lot of Monta Ellis’ driving ability.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
