NBA weekend betting preview: Rockets offense flying under the radar
Friday marks the final weekend of the 2020-21 regular season, so let's make the most of it. Coming off a perfect 3-0 on Thursday's selections, here's what to look out for in the next handful of days.
Clippers (-10.5) @ Rockets, 226.5
May 14, 9:00 p.m. ET
The Rockets have won as many games as you and I have in May (0-7), but they've been oddly profitable of late. Houston's quietly covered four straight games despite getting outscored by more than seven points per contest.
The offense, in particular, has been clicking on all cylinders entering the weekend, averaging 123 points over the last five. The Rockets unsurprisingly cashed all five team totals across that stretch, including three against defenses currently top-four in efficiency.
Rockets' last 5
| Opponent | Score | Team Total | Team Total O/U? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | L 122-120 | 104.5 | Over |
| Trail Blazers | L 140-129 | 114.5 | Over |
| Jazz | L 124-116 | 104.5 | Over |
| Bucks | L 141-133 | 108.5 | Over |
| 76ers | L 135-115 | 103.5 | Over |
Houston clocks in No. 6 in pace but has moved up to No. 3 over its recent-five game surge.
Let the offense come through for us one last time this season.
Pick: Rockets team total over 107.5
Nuggets (-8.5) @ Pistons, 215.5
May 14, 8 p.m.
This is an awful spot for the Nuggets. The team's playing its third road game in four days and the second of a back-to-back before returning home for one final postseason tune-up.
If we're playing the trends, Denver is just 7-19 against the spread the last 26 Friday games and 2-5 ATS the previous seven meetings in Detroit.
The Pistons, meanwhile, are 2-6 ATS the last eight, but this is a good situation to back them. The club is a blistering 11-2 ATS the last 13 following a double-digit home loss and has covered eight of the last 10 against teams with winning percentages greater than .600.
Take the points with the home side.
Pick: Pistons +8.5
Magic @ 76ers (-13.5), 214.5
May 14, 8 p.m.
Arguably the most surprising 'over' squad in the NBA this season? The Magic, whose 37-32-1 O/U record (53.6%) is the seventh-best clip. The team has hit eight of its last 12 and is in a good spot to ship another Friday against the 76ers.
Orlando, which is coming off a 116-93 loss to the Hawks on Thursday, is 6-0 to the over the last six on zero rest and 9-2 the last 11 following a double-digit loss.
The Sixers, meanwhile, pummel bad teams. Philly's a red-hot 17-6 to the over the last 23 against teams with winning percentages south of .400.
Pick: Over 214.5
Bulls @ Nets (NA)
May 15, 1 p.m.
The Bulls are the league's hottest 'under' team right now. Chicago's cashed nine straight, with its offensive and defensive ratings over that span ranking No. 22 and 6, respectively.
The team draws the NBA's most efficient offense in the Nets, which finally appear healthy, but things shouldn't change. Brooklyn's on its own mini-run of unders - five of the last seven - while the two sides have both cashed three straight.
Celtics @ Knicks (NA)
May 16, 1 p.m.
The Celtics are reeling down the stretch, and it doesn't get much easier in their finale against the Knicks. Boston's 0-5 this season playing at 2:00 p.m. or earlier, losing by a mind-boggling average of 15.8 points per game.
New York, meanwhile, is the Association's top cover team at 44-25-1 (63.8%). The club is 3-1 ATS the last four meetings against the Celtics and beat them by 30 the last time these two met in the early window.
The Knicks are the pick.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.