The Brooklyn Nets (15-19) travel to face off against the Houston Rockets (16-15) on Wednesday, January 3rd. This game will be played at Toyota Center. The Rockets are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Nets are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pistons. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.
Nets vs Rockets
The Nets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Nets’ most recent matchup against the Pelicans saw Cameron Johnson lead the Nets with 17 points while shooting 6/12 from the field. While Mikal Bridges was 2nd on the team with 13 points, Brooklyn fell short in the game with a final score of 112-85.
Coming into their matchup with the Rockets, the Nets have an overall record of 15-19 and are trying to end their four-game losing skid. Against Eastern Conference opponents, the Nets are 13-11 and are 2-8 in non-conference games.
Currently, Brooklyn holds an above .500 ATS record of 18-15 so far this year. The Nets have seven straight ATS losses as the underdog and are 9-4 vs. the spread as the favorite.
The Rockets Are Coming Off A Win
The Rockets’ most recent game versus the Pistons saw Alperen Sengün lead the Rockets with 26 points while shooting 9/13 from the field. Jalen Green also contributed 22 points as the Rockets won by a score of 136-113 vs. the Pistons.
The Rockets are looking to avoid falling to .500 as they approach today’s game. Through 31 games, the Rockets are 16-15 overall. At home, they are 13-5 compared to 3-10 on the road.
In terms of the spread, Houston currently holds an ATS record of 19-11, which is above .500. During this season, Houston has a 8-2 record against the spread as favorites and 11-9 as underdogs.
Nets Offense Breakdown
This season, the Brooklyn offense is ranked 16th in the NBA in scoring at 114.7 points per game. So far, the Nets are averaging 97.8 possessions per game, which places them below the NBA average. Their slower style of play has created fewer offensive opportunities, leading to them being ranked 14th in fields goals made per contest.
Rockets Offense Breakdown
Houston has recorded an average of 113.1 points per game (20th) throughout 31 games games. Coming into today’s game, the Rockets will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 12.4 made 3’s per game. Not only is the Houston offense struggling with their outside shot, but they are also getting to the charity stripe at a below average rate. So far, they are the 14th ranked team in made free-throws per contest.
Nets Team Defense
At this time, the Nets’ defense is positioned 19th in the NBA, permitting 116.2 points per game. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Nets squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 53.0% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 38.1% from downtown.
Rockets Team Defense
The Rockets’ defense is presently ranked 3rd in the league, allowing an average of 109.8 points per contest. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Rockets squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 53.5% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 32.5% from downtown.
Key Players For The Nets And Rockets
For today’s matchup, we project Mikal Bridges to lead the scoring for the Nets, putting up 17 points and shooting at a rate of 6/16. During this season, he is delivering an average of 20.9 points per game, along with 5.2 rebounds.
On the opposing side, we anticipate Jalen Green to be the top scorer for the Rockets. Our projection has him finishing the game with 19, and he is expected to secure 4 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 40.7%, and he is contributing 17.5 points per game on average.
Nets vs Rockets Trends
- Across their ten previous road games, Brooklyn has an ATS mark of 2-8. Their straight up record in these matchups was 3-7 while averaging 109 points per game.
- In their last ten games at home, the Rockets have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 5-4-1 vs. the spread. The team averaged 112 points per game in this stretch.
- Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Brooklyn has an ATS mark of 2-8 while going 2-8 straight up.
- Houston has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 2-1 SU and 2-1 ATS in their last three games.
Nets vs Rockets Prediction
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +6.5, the Nets is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 222.5, and our model projects the Nets and Rockets to reach a combined total of 217 points. Our bet is on taking the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 3, 2024 Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Teams