Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 10/12/2023, 06:25  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Houston Rockets will look to build on a nine-game home winning stretch when hosting the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, December 11, 2023. The hosts are 10-9 and eighth in the Western Conference standings, while the visitors are 3-18, leaving them at the foot of the table. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Spurs won 126-122 in overtime in the last matchup on Oct. 28.

The Houston Rockets secured their first road victory of the season, winning 114-106 against the Denver Nuggets. That was the fourth and final encounter between the two teams, resulting in a 3-1 regular-season series win for the Rockets at Ball Arena.  Jalen Green played a pivotal role, leading the Rockets in scoring with 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting. The win not only marked the end of an eight-game road losing streak for the Rockets but also concluded a 10-game losing streak in Denver. With a 2-2 record in division play, the Rockets currently hold the seventh position in the Western Conference. They boast an average of 26.1 assists per game, spearheaded by Fred VanVleet, who has an impressive 8.7 per game. Houston scores an average of 110.3 points per game, which is 12.5 points less than the 122.8 points the Spurs concede on average. Unfortunately, the Rockets have some players sidelined: Jock Landale (illness), Victor Oladipo (knee), and Amen Thompson (ankle).

Meanwhile, The San Antonio Spurs find themselves in a challenging position this season with a record of 3-18, marking their worst start in franchise history through 21 games. Their 121-112 defeat by the Chicago Bulls on Friday night extended their losing streak to a franchise-record-tying 16 consecutive losses. That loss also came despite Wembanyama, at 19 years and 338 days, making history as the youngest player in NBA history to achieve a game with 20 points and 20 rebounds, surpassing Dwight Howard's record set in 2005 by just four days. San Antonio's struggles are further evident in their 1-9 record in games where they've held a 10-point lead this season and a 3-12 record in Western Conference play. Their defensive struggles are highlighted by allowing 122.8 points to opponents, resulting in an average deficit of 12.1 points per game. Despite shooting at a respectable 45.6% from the field, the Spurs face an uphill battle to turn their season around.