The Houston Rockets (22-11) and Portland Trail Blazers (17-20) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is set for 10:00 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on KUNP.
The Rockets are 7.5-point favorites over the Blazers on the spread (Rockets -7.5), with the over/under set at 221.5 total points. Houston is a -260 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while Portland is +220 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Rockets vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, January 7.
Rockets vs Trail Blazers Prediction, Picks
- Rockets vs Trail Blazers pick: Deni Avdija Under 26.5 Points (-120)
My Rockets vs Trail Blazers best bet is on Deni Avdija under 26.5 points, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Rockets vs Trail Blazers Odds for Wednesday, Jan. 7
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 221.5 -110o / -110u | -260 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 221.5 -110o / -110u | +220 |
Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers NBA Preview
Deni Avdija has been tremendous this season for the Blazers and he is the favorite to win the Most Improved Player award.
However, this matchup against the Rockets presents a number of issues for him.
Deni is averaging 25.9 points per game on the season and is coming off three strong games against the Pelicans, the Spurs (without Victor Wembanyama) and the Jazz.
I’m selling high here.
One of the sneaky details about Deni’s season is that he’s averaging the second-most free-throw attempts per game in the league, behind only Luka Dončić, at 9.8.
Yes, you read that right. He averages more FTAs than your favorite foul merchant. He does this by relentlessly attacking the rim and living in the paint.
Rockets vs Trail Blazers Betting Predictions, Analysis
The Rockets allow the seventh-fewest free-throw attempts per game and are above average at limiting paint scoring — and while Portland plays fast, Houston operates at the third-slowest pace in the league.
Against bottom-10 pace teams, Deni averages 24.7 points and has gone under this line in seven of nine games.
When he faced the Rockets earlier this season, he scored 22 points and finished below his free-throw attempt average.
It’s tough fading a young star, but this is a difficult matchup.
Rockets vs Trail Blazers Best Bet
- Deni Avdija Under 26.5 Points (-120)
Trail Blazers vs Rockets Betting Trends
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