Something has to give, basketball gambling-wise, when the Houston Rockets visit the San Antonio Spurs for game 5 of their playoff series which is currently tied 2-2. The Rockets made it rain at the Toyota Center in game 4 on Sunday, hitting 19 of 43 three-point shots. Houston never trailed and entered the fourth quarter commanding a 15-point lead. “Our bible begins with transition defense, and if it’s not there, then we’re just not ready to go,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. The 125-104 final scoreboard marks Houston’s return to the 100-point mark since the first game of the series.
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: ATT Center
Sportsbook NBA online betting odds:
Rockets +5½ (-110) 214 (-110) +190
Spurs -5½ (-110) 214 (-110) -230
Houston
Key players: James Harden led the Rockets with 28 points and 12 rebounds. “I can finally breathe,” the shooting guard said. Did he shave his beard? No, because in that case he would have said, “I can finally eat soup.” He was actually referring to a nagging chest cold he had been struggling with tin the past few days. Harden banged up his knee when he collided with Patty Mills, but the home crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief when he returned no worse for wear. Eric Gordon added 22 points, 18 of which came from behind the arc. Trevor Ariza scored in double digits for the second consecutive game. Center Nene will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn left groin. Ouch.
Recent form: The Rockets have won seven of their last 10 games but have lost 11 of the last 15 against the Spurs.
NBA online betting odds trends: Houston has gone 5-12-1 against the spread in the last 18 games overall and 3-5-1 ATS in the last nine on the road. The basketball gambling total has gone over in five of the Rockets’ last seven road games and over in four of their last five games versus the Spurs.
San Antonio
Key players: Jonathon Simmons scored 17 points, while Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge had 16 each, which wasn’t enough to make any significant inroads into Houston’s lead. Rookie Dejounte Murray had eight points in his second game subbing for Tony Parker, who had his own postseason-ending injury in game 2. Pau Gasol finished with eight points and seven rebounds, while starting guard Danny Green contributed only three points.
Recent form: The Spurs have prevailed in four of their last six games, as well as four of the last five at home. Moreover, San Antonio has won 13 of the last 17 times when hosting the Rockets.
NBA online betting odds trends: The Spurs are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games, and 4-1 ATS in the last five contests at the AT&T Center. The basketball gambling total has gone over in seven of San Antonio’s last eight games, over in four of the Spurs’ last five home games, and over in seven of their last eight games playing the Rockets at home.