The Houston Rockets will host the Denver Nuggets in a Western Conference matchup. Both teams are vying for a high seed in the NBA playoffs to secure home-court advantage. The Rockets have a 46-25 record and are currently the No. 2 seed in the West, while the Nuggets are 44-27 as the No. 3 seed, two games behind Houston. The Nuggets will be without their star player, Nikola Jokic, due to an ankle injury.
The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Rockets are favored by 7.5 points. The over/under for the game is set at 224.5 points.
For those interested in a same-game parlay for this game, SportsLine`s Projection Model provides insights. This model, known for its accuracy in NBA predictions, simulates each game 10,000 times to project player performance. Here are three top picks from the model for a same-game parlay:
Rockets -7 (-108 at FanDuel)
Nikola Jokic`s absence is a significant blow to the Nuggets. He is crucial to Denver`s offense, leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Without Jokic, the Nuggets have struggled, going 1-2 in their last three games without him, with recent losses being by significant margins. The Rockets, on the other hand, are on a strong nine-game winning streak, the longest current streak in the league. The SportsLine model predicts the Rockets to cover the spread in over 60% of simulations. While some sportsbooks have moved the line to 7.5 points, FanDuel Sportsbook still offers the Rockets at -7 with -108 odds.
Fred VanVleet Over 3.5 Total Rebounds (+122 at FanDuel)
Fred VanVleet has exceeded 3.5 rebounds in four of his last five games, consistently grabbing at least four rebounds in those games. He`s averaging close to five rebounds in his recent games. With Jokic, who averages a high number of rebounds, out of the game, there will be more rebounds available. VanVleet, who averages 4.0 rebounds this season, could capitalize on these opportunities, especially considering recent games where similar guards have grabbed a good number of rebounds against the Rockets.
Tari Eason Under 17.5 Points + Rebounds (-110 at FanDuel)
Rockets forward Tari Eason has struggled to exceed 17.5 points and rebounds against strong teams recently. In his last 10 games against winning teams, he`s averaged 16.4 points and rebounds, staying under this mark in seven of those games. With the Rockets expected to be at full strength, including the return of Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, Eason might see fewer opportunities.
Same-Game Parlay Odds: +606
For more NBA game predictions, SportsLine`s model offers picks for every game, with a strong track record over the past six seasons.
