Phoenix at Houston – Big Shaq vs. Bigger Yao

Phoenix Suns (34-27 SU, 24-36-1 ATS) at Houston Rockets (39-23 SU, 30-31-1 ATS)

BetOnline NBA Betting Odds: HOUSTON -5.5, Total 224

Here are some of the NBA sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* PHX has played eight of its last 11 games OVER the total

* PHX has lost five of its last six road games SU

* PHX has covered one of its last six road games

* PHX has played four of its last five road games OVER the total

* HOU has covered four of its last five games

* HOU has won eight of its last ten games SU

* HOU has covered five of its last six home games

* HOU has won its last ten home games SU

Also…

* PHX has covered nine of the last 12 meetings

* PHX has won 13 of the last 19 meetings SU

* HOU has won four of the last six meetings SU

* Six of the last nine meetings have gone UNDER the total

* PHX has covered eight of the last nine meetings as the road team

* PHX has won seven of the last nine meetings SU as the road team

* Four of the last six meetings in Houston have gone OVER the total

* PHX has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings

* PHX has made more three-pointers in five of the last eight meetings

Shaquille O’Neal has surprised some people with his ability to hang in for a full season and even escalate his play. Right now Shaq is averaging 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds which is very solid for the big man, but lately he’s been out of this world, averaging 29.8 ppg in his last four outings. He had a tough reunion with his former Heat teammates on Wednesday, as they lost a 135-129 decision. He did, however, lead four Suns who had 19 or more points, and Steve Nash had a game-high 29 points for Phoenix. Obviously Nash knew that he had to step up his offensive game since Amare Stoudamire was out of the lineup with an eye injury.

Everyone has stepped up the offense, in fact. Phoenix went back to a run ‘n gun style when Alvin Gentry took over for the fired Terry Porter on an interim basis. They came out of chute with three straight games of 140 points or more, but of course when moving up in class of opposition the results have been sketchy. All told, the Suns are 6-4 SU and ATS under Gentry, and have shot 50% or better in eight of ten games. Seven of those games have gone over the total. In road games against good teams – and admittedly this is not a big sampling – Phoenix lost by 26 points to the Lakers and 12 points to Orlando.

If there is any team that can slow Phoenix down, it is defensive-minded Houston, which has flourished despite the loss of two starters (Tracy McGrady to injury, Rafer Alston to trade) as they have held eight of the last ten opponents to under 100 points.

Phoenix is a poor 4-12 ATS as an underdog this season, and we know that Shaq never really dominates Yao, so we feel comfortable in laying the points with a stronger Rocket team that is the 5.5-point favorite in the BetOnline Sportsbook NBA pro basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: HOUSTON -5.5 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)