Charlotte Hornets (7-21) vs Houston Rockets (18-9)
December 23, 2024 at 07:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Charlotte Hornets +6.5 / Houston Rockets -6.5 — Over/Under: 215.5
The Houston Rockets and the Charlotte Hornets duke it out at the Spectrum Center on Monday night. Here’s a Houston Rockets vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction. This article will include a Houston Rockets vs Charlotte Hornets Pick.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have been in great shape as they’ve won seven of their last 10 games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight win after sneaking past the Raptors in a 114-110 road win last night. Dillon Brooks led the team with 27 points on six of 12 shooting, Jalen Green added 22 points while Alperen Sengun chipped in with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. As a team, the Rockets shot 44 percent from the field and seven of 28 from the 3-point line as they got off to a terrible start and allowed 35 points in the first quarter to trail by 16 points before they poured in 63 points in the second half to come away with the impressive comeback victory.
Charlotte Hornets
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 12 of their last 13 games overall and they will be hoping to snap a four-game slide after getting beaten by the 76ers in a 108-98 road defeat on Friday. Vasilije Micic led the team with 20 points, Miles Bridges added 15 points with two blocks while Cody Martin chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Hornets shot 46 percent from the field and 10 of 31 from the 3-point line, but they were always playing from behind after getting outscored by 41-23 in the first quarter to trail by 23 points. Josh Green had a quiet game of just four points in 33 minutes of action while LaMelo Ball sat out the game.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Hornets have lost each of their last 14 games at Spectrum Center against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
- The Rockets have won nine of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a losing record.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last seven Monday games.
- The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five night games against teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Hornets’ last nine games as home underdogs against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Rockets’ last six Monday games has gone UNDER the total points line.
Charlotte Hornets Player Facts
- Cody Martin ranks 21st in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.2) this season.
- Mark Williams leads all Hornets players for blocks per 36 minutes (2.6) this season.
Houston Rockets Player Facts
- Jalen Green ranks 10th in the league for fast break points (97) this season.
- Jabari Smith Jr. ranks T12th in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for Blocks Per Game (1.0) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Hornets rank 30th in the league for free throw attempts per game this season (19.0).
- The Hornets have missed the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons – the longest active streak in the NBA
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (13.9).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for field goal attempts per game this season (93.6).
Houston Rockets vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction
The Rockets are still missing Tari Eason, who has a lower leg injury, while the Hornets don’t have anyone listed on the injury report at the moment. The Rockets come into this meeting as the clear favorites despite playing their second game of a back to back set. The line is short enough for this one and I can’t trust the Hornets the way they’ve been playing, so I will stick with the Rockets to get the job done on the road.