The Point-Spreads.com NBA featured game for Wednesday night (Feb. 20) is the Houston Rockets, favored by a -3.0 chalk (187 total) in their game with the visiting Miami Heat with tip-off from the Toyota Center in Houston at 9 p.m. EST.
The Heat has won seven out of their last eight games and has covered nine out of their last twelve. Not surprising, with Shaq back in the lineup, the Heat are shooting 53.2% from the field over the last eight games. However, the Heat have not played in a week, last lacing them up against Portland on Feb. 13 and any momentum they gained could be lost.
Houston leads the all-time series over Miami, 21-19. The Rockets are 11-8 at home against the Heat, but are 10-11 on the road. In the first game of this season’s series, Yao Ming posted 34 points and 14 rebounds in guiding the Rockets to a 94-72 win at Miami on Nov. 12. which marked Houston’s first win in Miami since the 2002-03 season.
The Rockets have not shot over 50% from the field in their last seven games. Since 1996, the Heat has dominated this series having won 65% of the games against the spread and 70% of the games straight up. As the early action rolls in 58% of the bettors are backing the Heat +3 given the above data. That could be a mistake as the Heat have not fared all that well on the road against quality competition as they showed losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last road game by 24 points on Feb 9. In totals betting, the over/under has split 5-5 in the last 10 games Miami has played.
Both teams could be a bit cold coming into tonight’s game as neither has seen action since prior to the all-star break.
The Rockets went into the break after losing a tough home game to the surging Dallas Mavericks 80-77 at home. Prior to the game with the Mavericks the Rockets had won four of five straight up and three of five against the spread. The under covered in three of the last five games the Rockets have played.
Look for Houston to win straight up and cover -3.0 on its home court at one of the NBA’s more difficult venue.
