Hot meets Hotter – Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz

Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz

Tip-off: 9:00 pm est.

The Utah Jazz are currently #1 in the NBA Power Rankings because they’ve been better than any other team ATS since the All-Star break. Utah is putting it altogether. The rest of the Western Conference should be worried as the Jazz have compiled a straight-up record of 37 and 23 after a terrible first half of the season. Utah is 33 and 27 ATS and 20 and 12 against the spread at home.

The Houston Rockets made a key move by switching Ron Artest to guard. Like Utah, Houston has been very good after the All-Star break. Their straight-up record is 39 and 22. Their record against the spread is 29-31-1. Their record ATS on the road is 14 and 16.

Here is the BetOnline Sportsbook online NBA betting line for this game.

Houston Rockets +8 ½ -110 O 201 ½ -110

Utah Jazz -8 ½ -110 U 201 ½ -110

Here are a few online NBA wagering trends for this game.

The Houston Rockets are 1 and 4 against the spread in their last 5 games on the road.

The Houston Rockets are 3 and 7 ATS in the last 10 games between these two teams in Utah.

The Utah Jazz is 7 and 1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.

The Utah Jazz is 5 and 0 against the spread in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning straight-up record.

The key in this game is going to be whether or not Ron Artest can shut down Deron Williams. Williams, Utah’s point guard, put up 20 assists in the Jazz’s last game, a victory over the Golden State Warriors.

It was the Jazz’s 8th victory in a row. Utah is on a serious roll right now and Artest will have to be at his best defensively to keep Williams contained.

If that happens, then the Rockets have a shot since Yao Ming can play straight-up against Mehmet Okur. The return of Carolos Boozer means that Utah is even more formidable in the paint. So, Shane Battier is going to have to take on Boozer or Milsap, leaving Yao on Okur.

Luis Scola has been very good for the Rockets as well. He’ll have to continue his terrific play because the Jazz can bring either Milsap or C.J. Miles off the bench to support Okur and Boozer. Scola is going to have to contain Milsap who has put up huge numbers in games this season.

If the Jazz were favored by around 4 to 6 points, I might consider betting on them in this game, but I have to go with the Rockets at +8 ½. Even though Utah is on a roll, they’re going to drop a game soon. It might be against Houston on Wednesday night.

The Rockets match-up well with the Jazz now that Artest is at guard. That’s what I will be counting on.

I’m not in love with this bet, but I do believe that taking the points on the Rockets is the way to go. I’ll be betting the Rockets to beat the +8 ½ points in the sportsbook.