The Houston Rockets (1-0) and San Antonio Spurs (0-1) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. EDT from Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The game will broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
The Spurs are 7.5-point favorites on the spread against the Rockets, with the over/under set at 225.5 total points. The Spurs are -266 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Rockets are listed as +217 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Rockets vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks for Friday, October 23.
Rockets vs Spurs Prediction
- Rockets vs Spurs pick: Jabari Smith Over 13.5 Points (-110, bet365)
My Rockets vs. Spurs best bet is on Jabari Smith to score over 13.5 points, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Rockets vs Spurs Odds
- Rockets vs Spurs spread: Spurs -7.5 (109), Rockets +7.5 (-114)
- Rockets vs Spurs over/under: 225.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Rockets vs Spurs moneyline: Rockets +217, Spurs -266
Rockets vs Spurs NBA Preview
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Jabari Smith is playing a ton of minutes for the Rockets right now, and it's clear Ime Udoka really likes and trusts him on the floor.
Even looking back at last season with a slightly different role, he hit his scoring overs in basically 70% of his games.
His biggest upgrade this year is having Fred VanVleet in the fold. It helps Jabari immensely because he doesn't have to constantly create his own shot; VanVleet will set him up in his spots.
Smith dropped 30 points in 36 minutes during the opener against Dallas, and the volume is completely sustainable.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview
The Spurs' defensive matchups look highly exploitable here.
De'Aaron Fox is on the injury report; if he plays, San Antonio is likely running a four-guard lineup alongside Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama is almost certainly going to be covering Alperen Sengun down low, which leaves undersized guards like Dylan Harper or Julian Champagnie trying to cover Jabari Smith.
That's a massive mismatch size-wise for the Spurs, and Smith will be able to easily shoot right over the top of them.
Rockets vs Spurs Pick, Betting Analysis
The line is just a little bit depressed right now.
Smith's 30-point opener is a fantastic way to start the year; he's got a huge size advantage against San Antonio's perimeter defenders, and VanVleet is going to consistently set him up for success.
I'll take Jabari Smith to score over 13.5 points here.
Pick: Jabari Smith Over 13.5 Points (-110, bet365)
