The Los Angeles Clippers (6-18) and Houston Rockets (15-6) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The game will broadcast live on SCHN.
The Rockets are 9.5-point favorites over the Clippers on the spread (Rockets -9.5), with the over/under set at 222.5 total points. Houston is a -425 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Los Angeles +325 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, December 11.
My Clippers vs Rockets Prediction
- Clippers vs Rockets pick: Amen Thompson Over 1.5 Steals (+100)
My Clippers vs Rockets best bet is on Amen Thompson over 1.5 steals, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Clippers vs Rockets Odds
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 222.5 -110o / -110u | +325 |
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 222.5 -110o / -110u | -425 |
Clippers vs Rockets NBA Preview
I hate watching the Clippers. I hate that I allowed smart people to sway me to lean over in their win total before this season.
I hate that, in order to watch what has been a really awesome story brewing in Houston tonight, I have to sit through this other team that could never get it it together.
I hate that Derrick Jones Jr. is injured, because he's a fun wing defender with a 65 true shooting percentage and could seriously help a playoff team.
I won't say I hate James Harden, because that's too strong, and individually he's played quite well this year — but he's far from my favorite player of all time.
This team is so dispiriting, unreliable, and fraudulent every season, but I'm actually grateful we're getting this out of the way early and not being lied to about this team being a threat to OKC right up until they flame out in April.
Good riddance.
Anyway, injuries.
Jones Jr. (MCL) and Bradley Beal (hip) are out for the Clippers, like it matters.
Tari Eason (oblique), Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) and Fred VanVleet (ACL) are all out for Houston.
Clippers vs Rockets Prediction, Betting Analysis
Amen Thompson hasn't had a leap in steals, but this is a good spot for him.
Clippers' opponents are averaging 9.6 steals per game this season, which is the third-highest mark in the NBA.
Thompson is back up to 1.4 steals per contest — 1.6 over his last 13 — with over 1.5 in six of those.
Both Harden and Kris Dunn's turnover percentages are over 15, which are in the top 30 in the league.
Harden himself is third in turnovers per 100 possessions in the NBA at 5.5, and Thompson will likely be guarding him for most of the night while also cutting off Dunn's passing lanes, seeing as how the two form the Clippers' starting backcourt.
I grabbed Thompson at over 1.5 steals on FanDuel at +126, laddering to over three steals at +390 and over four steals at +920, all in the Action App.
Pick: Amen Thompson Over 1.5 Steals (+100)
Spread
I'm not betting either side of the spread in this game.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
My Rockets vs Clippers betting prediction is on Amen Thompson to go over 1.5 steals.
Rockets vs Clippers Betting Trends
