Simulation Picks
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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
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Expert Picks
Both of these teams come into the postseason on hot streaks. Houston's covered six of its last seven, and it's 5-0-1 ATS in its last six at home. Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last five and 10-3 ATS in its last 13 road games. I like the Rockets in the opener, though, as I believe they're the better team, and the fact they're 23-16-2 ATS at home this season doesn't hurt, either.
Since the All-Star break Houston and Utah are the two best teams in terms of net scoring per possession. Houston has outscored its opponents by 10.7 points per 100 possessions and Utah has outscored its opponents by 9.5 points per 100 possessions. Utah ranks No. 1 on defense and Houston ranks No. 2. The Jazz pace has been No. 13 and Houston's No. 21. Three of the four season meetings went under the total.