Spurs vs. Rockets Prediction and Odds for Monday, December 19 (Houston a Much Better Bet at Home)
By Peter Dewey
The two worst teams in the Western Conference face off in what could be a battle for the future team that eventually has Victor Wembanyama suiting up for them.
The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, and the Spurs may be without their best player in forward Keldon Johnson, listed as questionable for this game.
The Rockets have the worst record in the West, but it’s mainly due to their struggles on the road (3-13 straight up). The team has gone 6-7 straight up in Houston, and oddsmakers appear to have taken notice, making them home favorites in this game.
The Spurs beat Houston in San Antonio earlier this season, but this is a totally different spot. Houston goes from a -9.5 net rating on the road to just -0.9 at home.
San Antonio has the worst net rating in the NBA on the road this season, so is this lining up for a Houston win?
Let’s get into the odds and my best bet for this matchup:
Spurs vs. Rockets Odds, Spread and Total
Spurs vs. Rockets Prediction and Pick
The home-road splits for both of these teams are crazy, but it’s what you’d expect from very young teams.
The Rockets’ offense hasn’t been great lately, but since their loss to the Spurs they’ve held four straight teams to 111 or fewer points. That’s a step forward for a team that has been one of the worst in the NBA on defense over the last two seasons.
We’re going to have to lay some juice here, but I’m going to bet on Houston to win outright in this game.
The Spurs are just 5-7 against the spread as road dogs this season, losing by an average of 11.3 points per game.
If Johnson sits, I like Houston even more in this game, and it’s worth noting that the Rockets are 7-4-2 ATS at home in the 2022-23 campaign.
I don’t love laying the points with a team that can be so bad on the defensive end, so let’s just rock with Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and company to grab another win in Houston.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.