Free NBA Picks and Odds: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers NBA TV Expert Predictions – NBA Betting Preview 3/2/11: Shooting guard Kevin Martin will lead the hot Houston Rockets on the road to the Staples Center to take on high flying Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night at 10:30 PM ET on NBA TV. The Rockets have won 5 in a row and 7 of their last 10 and enter the game at 31-31 – 5th in the Southwest and 11th in the Western Conference – just 3 games back of the Grizzlies for the 8th playoff seed. The Clippers have lost their last 5 and sit at 21-40 4th in the Pacific with no realistic shot at making the playoffs but with Griffin they are still exciting to watch.
The Rockets didn’t necessarily help their playoff chances by trading Shane Battier and Aaron Brooks before last week’s trade deadline. “Talent-wise I think we took a step backward (with the trades), but guys like Chase (Budinger) and Courtney (Lee) are getting an opportunity to get more minutes now, and coach (Rick Adelman) gets an opportunity to leave his best players out on the court,” Martin said. The odds makers at JustBET have the Los Angeles Clippers a -3 point favorite at home against the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets most recent win came 103-87 on the road against the Portland Trailblazers leaving them at 32-28-2 ATS for the season. Forward-Center Luis Scola scored 21 points grabbed 6 rebounds and had 3 assists while point guard Kyle Lowry added 21 points to go with 4 boards and 11 dimes. Martin chipped in with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists while Courtney Lee came off the bench to help out with 10 points. Houston is 8-1 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers. Vegas odds makers have the Houston Rockets +25000 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The Clippers most recent loss came 105-99 at the Sacramento Kings moving them to 29-31-1 ATS for the season. Griffin led the Clippers with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists while Randy Foye added 23 points, grabbed 3 boards and dished 4 dimes. LA Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when playing Houston and the total has gone UNDER in 6 of the LA Clippers last 7 games when playing Houston at home. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 210 1/2 points combined of the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.
MATCHUP: Houston (31-31) at L.A. Clippers (21-40)
GAME TIME: 10:35 PM EST
TELEVISION: NBA TV
Recent Rockets and Clippers NBA Betting Odds Trends:
Houston: HOU are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Pacific.
Over is 7-2 in HOU last 9 overall.
HOU are 9-20 ATS in their last 29 Wed. games.
L.A. Clippers: LAC are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Under is 6-2 in LAC last 8 overall.
Head to Head: Road team is 14-5 ATS in the last 19 meetings.
Favorite is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
Opening Vegas Betting Morning Odds from Las Vegas
Favorite: LA Clippers -3
Total: O/U 211
* These are the Morning Lines at Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas
Rich Fritz’s Rockets and Clippers Free NBA Picks 3/2:
Play Houston +3
Bet it at BoDog Sportsbook
Check out NSAwins daily for the internet’s best NBA basketball and online sports betting information including NBA Betting Spreads plus some of the best sportsbook bonus codes including a HUGE EXCLUSIVE 100% BONUS upto $250 FREE using our BoDog Promo Sportsbook Code!