The Los Angeles Clippers and the Houston Rockets will meet for the second time in three days, this Saturday. But this time, it is going to be for an NBA Cup game at Toyota Center in Houston. Will the Clippers end their slump and trip up Houston? Or, will the Rockets beat LA again and extend their undefeated streak?
Catch this game live on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 9 AM, Manila time.
Away: Los Angeles Clippers (6-6/3-2 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- James Harden
- Kris Dunn
- Norman Powell
- Derrick Jones Jr.
- Ivica Zubac
James Harden and the Clippers have already lost three games in a row this season, and they will be looking to avoid experiencing that again when they meet the Rockets anew this Saturday. In last Thursday’s 111-103 road loss to Houston, the Clippers got to a good start, as they established an 11-point lead in the first half but somehow finished the second quarter trailing the Rockets by five points.
It didn’t help the Clippers that their only functioning superstar shot poorly from the field, with James Harden going just 6-for-15 from the floor for 19 points to go with seven assists and three steals. Meanwhile, the Clippers’ leading scorer, Norman Powell, who is averaging 24.9 points per game this season, was held to only 13 points on a salty 5-for-18 shooting. If the Clippers are to successfully bounce back from that loss, they will likely need to do a better job on the glass after getting outrebounded by the Rockets in the first meeting, 59-42.
Despite the loss to Houston, the Clippers still hold a formidable 7-3 straight-up record in seven of their last 10 games in H-Town.
Home: Houston Rockets (8-4/5/2 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Fred VanVleet
- Jalen Green
- Dillon Brooks
- Jabari Smith Jr.
- Alperen Sengun
Unlike the Clippers, the Rockets are in fine form heading into Saturday’s game. They are on a three-game win streak, though, that stretch also included wins against likely lottery teams Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards. That said, the Rockets are also 5-1 straight up in their last six outings, a stretch that includes a win against the New York Knicks. The Rockets will look to replicate their success against Los Angeles with their stout defense that is third-best in the league thus far this season, as it is allowing only 106.2 points per game.
In addition, the Rockets are holding opponents to only 51.3 effective field goal percentage. In other words, the ugly shooting performances of Powell and Harden last Thursday were not a fluke by Houston’s defense which is getting a big lift from the duo of Tari Eason and Amen Thompson. Eason and Thompson are showing great two-way play this season while also coming off the bench. During the win over the Clippers, Eason and Thompson scored 18 points apiece while combining for 21 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. The Rockets are 4-0 against the spread in their last four home games.
Picks
Spread: Houston Rockets (+4.5)
Over/Under: Under (217.0)
