The Houston Rockets go to Wells Fargo Center to battle the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday afternoon. This contest marks the start of the NBA’s full schedule on MLK Day. With Philadelphia coming in at 24-13 overall and 14-6 at home, Houston is 19-19 overall. After being labeled as questionable earlier in the day, Joel Embiid (knee) is available for Philadelphia, but Mo Bamba (knee) and De’Anthony Melton (back) are ruled out. Tari Eason (lower leg) is out for Houston.
Philadelphia is the 8.5-point favorite for this 1 p.m. ET tipoff, according to the SportsLine consensus. The most recent Rockets vs. 76ers odds indicate that Vegas believes a total of 228 points will be scored, or the over/under. You should see SportsLine’s cutting-edge computer model’s NBA predictions and betting recommendations prior to making any 76ers vs. Rockets selections.
Over the previous five plus seasons, the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has produced well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA choices. With a scorching 42-23 record on all of the top-rated NBA choices this season, the model leads into Week 13 of the 2023–24 NBA season with a return of about $2,000. Anyone who has followed it has made significant profits.
The algorithm has now locked down its choices and NBA predictions for the Sixers vs. Rockets match. You can see the model’s selections by visiting SportsLine right now. For the Rockets vs. Sixers game, the following NBA odds and betting lines are available:
•76ers vs. Rockets over/under: 228 points; 76ers vs. Rockets spread: 76ers -8.5
•Money line for the 76ers vs. Rockets: 76ers -346, Rockets +274
•76ers vs. Rockets picks: The 76ers are 14-6 against the spread at home, while the Rockets are 6-10-1 against the spread on the road. View selections at SportsLine
The reason the Rockets are able to
The Rockets have a terrific attacking fulcrum in Alperen Sengun. The youthful big is averaging 21.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, and Sengun is shooting 54.1% from the field. In the previous 13 games, Sengun has boosted his productivity, averaging 25.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per match. Houston’s defense is excellent, while Sengun leads an offense that prevents turnovers that is in the top 10 in the NBA.
This season, the Rockets’ point differential of 112.1 points per 100 possessions puts them in the top quarter in the league. The Rockets are in the top five in the NBA in terms of opponent field goal percentage (45.6%) and opponent 3-point percentage (34.0%), while Houston leads the league in fast break points allowed (10.0 per game). In terms of assists allowed (24.3 per game) and points allowed in the paint (46.2 per game), the Rockets are also in the top five. In 2023–24, Houston will also secure 72.7% of the available defensive rebounds.
The 76ers’ ability to cover
Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid are three of Philadelphia’s elite scorers. Maxey is averaging 26.1 points and 6.6 assists per game, and he has scored 20 points or more in eight consecutive games. In Philadelphia’s most recent game, Harris scored 37 points on 14-25, and for the month of January, he is averaging 23.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The Sixers also hold a big home-court edge, with Philadelphia entering this game at 14-6 overall with a +10.2 net rating at Wells Fargo Center. Houston’s -6.9 net rating and 4-13 away from home tilt the odds in favor of Philadelphia.
The 76ers are also among the best in the NBA in every offensive category, averaging 119.1 points per 100 possessions, which puts them in the top six. In terms of preventing turnovers, fast-break points, points in the paint, offensive rebound percentage, and second-chance points, Philadelphia leads the league; yet, the 76ers’ most valuable asset is their free throw line. This season, Nick Nurse’s squad is the best in the NBA in terms of both free throw production (26.9 attempts per game) and accuracy (84%).
How to choose the Rockets vs the 76ers
The SportsLine model projects 222 combined points, which is a little underestimation of the total. Additionally, according to the model, in about 70% of simulations, one side of the spread hits. The model’s selections are exclusive to SportsLine.
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