Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Clippers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/8/24

The Houston Rockets (-138) are favored by 3 points as they travel to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (+118) at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Rockets are currently on a two-game losing streak and are 4th in the Western Conference with a record of 15-8. The Clippers are 6th in the West at 14-10.

This Western Conference matchup is set to tip-off at 9:00 ET and can be seen on SCHN.

HOUSTON ROCKETS VS LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Houston Rockets -3

This game will be played at Intuit Dome at 9:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th.

WHY BET THE HOUSTON ROCKETS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 126-102 in favor of the Rockets.
• Our projections have Jalen Green finishing with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
• From the field, we have the Rockets finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.1% and knocking down 13 threes.

Can the Rockets Live Up to the Hype on the Road?

The Rockets fell to 15-8 on the season after a 99-93 road loss to the Warriors on Thursday. Houston, favored by 4.5 points, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 192, well below the 218.5 O/U line.

Houston went on a 10-0 run to extend their lead from 65-53 to 75-53, but the Warriors responded by outscoring the Rockets 31-21 in the 2nd quarter. Houston couldn’t close the gap after trailing 73-66 heading into the 4th, despite winning the final quarter 27-26.

The Rockets struggled offensively in their loss to the Warriors, shooting just 37.6% from the field and 26.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on only 10 threes. Alperen Şengün led the way with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Dillon Brooks added 15 points.

Amen Thompson and Jalen Green each contributed 14 points, with Thompson scoring 9 of his points in the opening quarter. Şengün was a force in the 4th, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the final period.

Despite a strong defensive showing, the Rockets couldn’t pull off the win, allowing 99 points to the Warriors. They held Golden State to just 18 points in the 1st quarter but gave up 31 in the 2nd. In the 3rd, they allowed 24 points and 26 in the 4th.

Houston limited the Warriors to 41% shooting, including 32% from three, where Golden State made 9 threes. The Rockets sent the Warriors to the line 27 times, where they hit 18 free throws. Houston also recorded 9 steals and 9 blocks.

Will the Clippers Find a Way to Win at Home?

The Clippers fell to 14-10 on the season after a 108-80 loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Playing at home, the Clippers were +4.5 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 188 points was well below the O/U line of 212.5.

After a 15-0 run by the Timberwolves, the Clippers struggled to recover. They were outscored 33-14 in the 1st quarter and trailed 86-50 going into the 4th, where they managed to outscore Minnesota 30-22.

The Clippers struggled offensively in their 108-80 loss to the Timberwolves, shooting just 34.9% from the field and 27.5% from three-point range. They made 11 threes in the game, with Bones Hyland hitting 5 of them at a 50% clip.

Hyland led the Clippers with 18 points, scoring 9 in the 4th quarter. Derrick Jones added 14 points, and Amir Coffey contributed 12, with 7 of his points coming in the 3rd quarter.

Defensively, the Clippers struggled in the 1st quarter, giving up 33 points, but they tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 22. Overall, they allowed 108 points on 48% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Timberwolves hit 16 threes at a 36% clip. The Clippers sent them to the line 18 times, where they made 10 free throws. Los Angeles finished with 36 defensive rebounds, 7 steals, and 2 blocks.