Boston Celtics at Houston Rockets Betting Odds


Opening Line: Celtics -1.5 / Rockets +1.5 O/U 203

Time: 8:30 PM EST Friday March 19, 2010 on NBA TV

Tonight in the Lone Star State the streaking Houston Rockets host the Boston Celtics. The Rockets have won 4 straight and they need to end the season well, as they are currently 4.5 games back of the Portland Trailblazers for the 8th and finals playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Celtics have won 2 in a row and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are tied with Atlanta for the 3rd playoff spot in the West and even though Boston will make the playoffs every game is important for them. They really would love to snag the 3rd spot in the East rather than the 4th, as that would mean they would not have to play King James and Cleveland if they make the 2nd round of the playoffs.

This season Houston is 20-14 at home and 31-35 ATS and Boston is 22-12 on the road and 26-39-2 ATS.

Both teams played on Wednesday night, as Boston beat the New York Knicks 109-97 and Houston beat the Memphis Grizzlies 107-94.

The Celtics have been playing great team basketball in their 2-game winning streak, as they have a total of 62 assists in those games and PG Rajon Rondo has 18 of them.

Boston ranks 2nd in the league in terms of opponents' points allowed and Houston has a good offense ranking 11th in scoring (101.9 ppg).

The Celtics' defense has to contain a couple of Rockets' players that are playing well in PG Aaron Brooks (20.1 ppg) and PF Luis Scola (15.7 ppg). Brooks was simply en fuego in Houston's last game hitting all 7 of his 3-point bombs and Scola is averaging 25.8 ppg on 57.3% shooting in his last 6 games.

Houston's defense is their weakness, as they rank 20th in the league in opponents' points allowed (101.5 ppg). They are one of the worst teams in defending the 3 allowing opponents to hit on 35.4% of their 3-point bombs this season. Their perimeter D has to step up in this game and now allow Paul Pierce (17.7 ppg) or Ray Allen (16.1 ppg) to fire away from deep.

Boston has a better road record this season than at home and Houston is 4 games under .500 against teams in the Eastern Conference.

Betting Trends

Boston is 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite of 0.5-4.5, 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against teams with a winning record, and has an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 games as a road favorite.

Houston is 5-14 ATS in their last 19 home games, 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog, and has an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 home games against teams with a winning road record.

Boston is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Houston.


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