Houston Rockets vs Denver Nuggets Betting Pick & Prediction 1/15/25
The Houston Rockets (-121) are favored by 1.5 points on the road against the Denver Nuggets (+100) in a Western Conference matchup. The over/under line is set at 231.5 points.
This game will tip-off at 9:00 ET and can be seen on SCHN. The Rockets (26-12) have won four straight and are 2nd in the Western Conference. The Nuggets (24-15) have also won four straight and are 4th in the West.
HOUSTON ROCKETS VS DENVER NUGGETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Denver Nuggets +1.5
This game will be played at Ball Arena at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, January 15th.
WHY BET THE DENVER NUGGETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 129-115 in favor of the Nuggets.
- Our projections have Nikola Jokic finishing with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.
- From the field, we have the Nuggets finishing with a field goal percentage of 49.5% and knocking down 12 threes.
Can the Rockets Offense Score Enough in Denver?
The Rockets improved to 26-12 on the season with a 120-118 win over the Grizzlies on Monday. Houston, playing at home, didn’t cover the spread as -2.5 favorites, winning by just two points. The total score of 238 points went over the pre-game line of 233.5.
Houston’s 10-0 run was a key moment in the game, as they turned an 18-14 deficit into a 24-18 lead. After falling behind 92-87 going into the 4th quarter, the Rockets outscored the Grizzlies 33-26 in the final period to secure the win.
Jalen Green’s 42-point performance, shooting 72.2% from the field and 83.3% from deep, led the Rockets to a win over the Grizzlies. Green hit 5 threes, scoring 11 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters, and added 10 points in each of the final two periods.
The Rockets connected on 16 threes at a 51.6% clip, finishing with a 50.6% overall shooting percentage. Amen Thompson contributed 12 of his 19 points in the 4th quarter, while Cam Whitmore added 10 of his 16 points in the 2nd quarter.
Despite giving up 118 points, the Rockets’ defense tightened up in the 4th quarter, allowing just 26 points to help secure the win. Overall, they allowed 30 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters and 32 in the 3rd. The Grizzlies shot 53% from the field.
Houston also struggled to defend the three, with Memphis hitting 14 threes at a 43% clip. The Rockets sent the Grizzlies to the line 21 times, where they made 14 free throws. Defensively, the Rockets recorded 13 steals and 8 blocks.
Will Denver Come Through as Home Underdogs?
The Nuggets improved to 24-15 on the season with a 118-99 win over the Mavericks on Tuesday. Denver, favored by 2.5 points, covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 217, falling short of the 235-point over/under line.
Denver set the tone early, jumping out to a 36-21 lead after the 1st quarter and extending it to 71-45 by halftime. A 12-0 run helped the Mavericks close the gap, but the Nuggets’ 91-67 lead heading into the 4th quarter was too much for Dallas to overcome.
Jamal Murray’s 45-point performance, shooting 69.2% from the field and hitting 5 threes at 55.6%, led the Nuggets to a win over the Mavericks. Murray scored 19 points in the 1st quarter and added 13 more in the 2nd.
As a team, Denver shot 51.8% from the field and made 13 threes at a 44.8% clip. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 13 points, hitting 3 threes at 75%, while Nikola Jokic added a 10-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist triple-double.
Defensively, the Nuggets were solid throughout the game, holding the Mavericks to just 99 points. They gave up 21 points in the 1st quarter, 24 in the 2nd, and 22 in the 3rd, before allowing 32 in the 4th.
Denver limited Dallas to 42% shooting, including 28% from three-point range, with the Mavericks making just 9 threes. The Nuggets also sent Dallas to the line 22 times, where they made 14 free throws. Denver finished with 40 defensive rebounds, gave up 8 offensive boards, and recorded 9 steals and 7 blocks.