Brooklyn Nets vs Houston Rockets February 4th 2025

The Brooklyn Nets (16-33) will host the Houston Rockets (32-17) at the Barclays Center in a non-conference matchup. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 ET and can be seen on YES.

Oddsmakers have the Rockets listed as 8.5-point favorites against the Nets, while the game’s total is sitting at 210.5. Houston is currently 3rd in the Western Conference and 2nd in the Southwest Division, while Brooklyn is 13th in the East and 5th in the Atlantic.

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Rockets vs. Nets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Houston Rockets at Brooklyn Nets
• Where: Brooklyn at Barclays Center
• Date: Tuesday, February 4th
• Betting Odds HOU -8.5, HOU -378 | BKN +300 O/U 210.5

The Rockets Can Win If…

The Rockets fell to 32-17 on the season after a 124-118 loss to the Knicks on Monday. Houston was +7 point underdogs going into the game but managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 242, surpassing the O/U line of 224 by 18 points.

Houston went on a 13-0 run early in the game, taking a 38-25 lead. They led 89-78 going into the 4th quarter but were outscored 46-29 in the final period, allowing the Knicks to come back and win.

Amen Thompson’s triple-double of 25 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds led the Rockets in their 124-118 loss to the Knicks. Thompson shot 52.9% from the field, while Jalen Green added 21 points despite shooting 40.9%. Cam Whitmore chipped in 18 points, hitting 50% of his shots and making 2 threes.

As a team, the Rockets struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 8 threes at a 28.6% rate. Overall, they shot 46.2% from the field. Aaron Holiday scored 9 of his 15 points in the 4th quarter, while Whitmore added 9 points in the 2nd quarter.

Defensively, the Rockets held the Knicks to 25 points in the 1st quarter, 27 in the 2nd, and 26 in the 3rd, but they gave up 46 points in the 4th, leading to a 124-118 loss. Houston allowed New York to shoot 50% from the field.

On the positive side, the Rockets limited the Knicks to just 6 made threes on 23% shooting from deep. Houston also recorded 8 steals and 6 blocks in the game.

• Houston has a 1-2 record in their last three road games. In this stretch, they averaged 112 points per game while allowing 113. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• Across their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Rockets have an overall record of 3-2 while going 2-3 against the spread.
• Over their last three games, the Rockets have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Nets Can Win If…

The Nets improved to 16-33 on the season with a 110-98 road win over the Rockets on Saturday. Brooklyn entered the game as +13 point underdogs and not only won but covered the spread. The total points for the game were 208, just under the 209.5 O/U line.

Brooklyn took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Houston 27-15. They extended their lead to 83-64 by the end of the 3rd quarter. Although the Rockets outscored the Nets 34-27 in the 4th, Brooklyn’s early dominance was enough to secure the win.

Ziaire Williams led the Nets with 21 points and 8 rebounds in their win over the Rockets, shooting 53.3% from the field. D’Angelo Russell added 18 points, hitting 3 threes at 37.5%, while Nic Claxton contributed 17 points, shooting 57.1%.

Brooklyn shot 49.4% from the field, connecting on 10 threes at a 37% clip. Williams scored 8 points in the 4th quarter, with Claxton also adding 6 points in the final period.

The Nets put together a strong defensive performance on Saturday, holding the Rockets to just 98 points. Brooklyn was especially effective in the 2nd quarter, allowing only 15 points. Overall, they limited Houston to 40% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Nets held the Rockets to 12 made threes on 30% shooting. Brooklyn also sent Houston to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 10. The Nets finished with 5 steals and 8 blocks.

• Across the Nets last ten home games, the team averaged 105 points per game while allowing 112. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 6-4, while going 4-6 straight-up.
• Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Nets have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 2-3.
• In their last five games, the Nets have an over/under record of 0-5 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re backing the Rockets for a victory, with the projected score at 101-78. Additionally, we favor them to cover the spread, so we recommend placing a bet on the Rockets at -8.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 210.5 and our model has the Rockets and Nets finishing with a combined 179 points. Our pick is to take the under.

NBA Picks

Rockets Seek Defensive Answers Against Nets Amid Losing Streak

The Houston Rockets are facing their toughest defensive struggles of the season as they look to snap a three-game losing streak against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. While Houston has been one of the NBA’s better defensive teams this season, their recent inability to protect the paint has put them in a difficult spot. Meanwhile, the Nets, despite winning two straight, are desperate to end an 11-game home losing streak—their longest in over six years.

Rockets’ Defensive Woes: A Major Concern

The Rockets are ranked sixth in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 108.8 points per game. However, during their recent three-game skid, that number has jumped to 118 points per game—a troubling sign as they prepare to face Brooklyn again.

Struggles in the Paint

Houston’s interior defense has been exposed in recent matchups:

• Allowed 80 points in the paint against the New York Knicks on Monday.
• Conceded 60 points inside in Saturday’s 110-98 home loss to the Nets.
• Gave up 72 points in the paint in a 120-119 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last Thursday.

Alperen Sengun’s Absence Hurts the Defense

A key reason behind the Rockets’ struggles is the absence of center Alperen Sengun, who has missed three games with a left calf bruise. Sengun had played every game until his injury in a 100-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 28. His presence in the paint was crucial, as Houston only allowed 46 points inside in that win.

Without Sengun, the Rockets have relied on Jae’Sean Tate and newly acquired Steven Adams to fill the void. On Monday, Tate played 22 minutes while Adams logged 26 minutes, but neither could prevent New York from dominating the paint.

Ime Udoka Calls Out Team’s Lack of Effort

After the 124-118 loss to the Knicks, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka didn’t hold back:

“Very soft and uncompetitive defensively. Just going at us 1-on-1. We’re complaining about offensive fouls, not boxing out, not doing our assignment, getting back cuts, off-ball actions. It adds up to 46 (points in the fourth quarter). We scored enough to win.”

The Rockets will need a stronger defensive effort if they hope to avoid another loss to Brooklyn.

Houston’s Offensive Adjustments Without VanVleet

The Rockets are also without veteran guard Fred VanVleet, who exited Saturday’s game with a right ankle injury and is now week-to-week. His absence has forced Tari Eason into the starting lineup, while rookie Amen Thompson has stepped up.

Amen Thompson’s Triple-Double Performance

Thompson delivered a breakout game on Monday, leading the Rockets with:

• 25 points
• 11 assists
• 11 rebounds

Despite his impressive performance, Houston struggled with defensive lapses and poor rebounding, issues they must address to defeat the Nets.

Nets Look to End 11-Game Home Losing Streak

Brooklyn enters Tuesday’s matchup with momentum, having won two straight games after a miserable stretch of losses. However, their home struggles remain glaring, as they have not won at the Barclays Center since Dec. 4—a span of 11 straight home defeats.

Historical Home Struggles

The Nets’ 11-game home losing streak is:

• The third-longest in franchise history, trailing only streaks of 14 games (2010) and 16 games (2017).
• Marked by nine consecutive games scoring under 100 points at home.

Brooklyn hopes to reverse this trend by replicating its strong offensive performance from Saturday, when they shot 49.4% from the field against Houston.

Injury Issues and Trade Speculation

The Nets are without forward Cameron Johnson, who will miss his fifth straight game due to a right ankle injury. Johnson has been sidelined for 13 of the past 16 games, and his name has surfaced in trade rumors ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Despite this, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez remains confident in his squad’s focus:

“Everybody handles it in a different way. The energy was great at practice, so I didn’t see anything different. The majority of them may think about it, but let’s get through it together and see what happens.”

Key Matchup to Watch

One of the biggest battles in this game will be Houston’s interior defense vs. Brooklyn’s attacking guards and wings. If the Rockets continue to struggle in the paint, players like Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie could take advantage, putting even more pressure on Houston’s depleted lineup.

Final Thoughts: Can Houston End Its Skid?

The Rockets face a must-win scenario to regain momentum in their push for a top Western Conference seed. However, to secure a victory, they must:
✅ Improve paint defense, even without Sengun.
✅ Get consistent scoring from Amen Thompson and Jalen Green.
✅ Limit careless mistakes and second-chance points.

Meanwhile, the Nets have their own goal: end their brutal home losing streak and continue their offensive resurgence.

Tip-off is set for Tuesday night, and both teams are hungry for a win. Who will rise to the challenge? 🚀🏀