Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions November 22nd 2024

Rockets vs Trail Blazers November 22nd 2024

At 8:00 ET, the 6-9 Portland Trail Blazers head to the Toyota Center to take on the 11-5 Houston Rockets. The Rockets are favored by 12.5 and the over/under is 223. KATU will have the TV coverage for this Western Conference matchup.

Portland is currently 13th in the Western Conference, while Houston is 3rd. The Blazers are 4th in the Northwest Division, while the Rockets are 1st in the Southwest.

Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Key Information

Portland fell to 6-9 on the season after a 109-99 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. The Blazers were +12.5 point underdogs heading into the game and managed to cover the spread, but the total score of 208 points fell short of the 222-point O/U line.

Portland went on a 10-0 run early, but the Thunder responded, taking control in the 2nd quarter. The Blazers fought back in the 3rd, but OKC pulled away in the 4th, outscoring Portland 39-30 in the final period.

The Trail Blazers struggled offensively in their loss to the Thunder, managing just 99 points on 40.5% shooting from the field. They did, however, connect on 15 three-pointers at a 39.5% clip.

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Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 21 points, including 10 in the 4th quarter. Jerami Grant and Toumani Camara each added 14 points, with Grant scoring 9 in the opening period.

Defensively, the Trail Blazers were solid through three quarters, holding the Thunder to 70 points before giving up 39 in the 4th, leading to a 109-99 loss. Portland did well in limiting Oklahoma City’s three-point shooting, allowing just 9 made threes on 29% shooting.

Portland sent the Thunder to the line 23 times, where they converted 20 free throws. The Blazers recorded 33 defensive rebounds but allowed 15 offensive boards. They also finished with 6 steals and 7 blocked shots.

The Rockets improved to 11-5 on the season with a 130-113 win over the Pacers on Wednesday. Playing at home, Houston entered the game as 6-point favorites and covered the spread with a 17-point victory.

Houston took control with a strong 3rd quarter, outscoring Indiana 36-24 to extend their lead to 98-77. Although the Pacers won the 4th quarter 36-32, the Rockets had already put the game out of reach. The total points for the game were 243, surpassing the O/U line of 232.5 by 10.5 points.

Alperen Şengün led the Rockets to a 130-113 win over the Pacers, scoring 31 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while shooting 63.2% from the field. Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points, hitting 3 threes at a 60% clip, and Fred VanVleet contributed 18 points, knocking down 4 threes at 50% efficiency.

Şengün scored 12 points in the 4th quarter, while VanVleet and Smith each added 11 points in the 3rd. As a team, the Rockets shot 46.1% from the field and made 12 threes at 33.3% efficiency.

Despite giving up 113 points on 53% shooting, the Rockets’ defense held strong enough to secure the win over the Pacers. They allowed 23 points in the 1st and 24 in the 3rd but struggled in the 4th, giving up 36 points.

Houston did an excellent job defending the three, holding Indiana to just 5 made threes on 22% shooting. The Rockets also limited the Pacers to 3 offensive rebounds and came up with 16 steals.

Coming in as the underdogs at +12.5, we have the Trail Blazers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 223, and our model predicts the Trail Blazers and Rockets to score a combined 316 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Rockets Revving Up on Defense Ahead of Bout with Blazers

Nearly a month into the season, the Houston Rockets have cemented their status as a defensive powerhouse.

Heading into Friday’s home matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Rockets boast the league’s third-best defensive rating, allowing just 104.8 points per 100 possessions. This game, part of Western Conference Group A NBA Cup action, pits two 1-0 teams looking to advance in the tournament.

Rockets’ Defensive Identity

Houston’s defense has been a revelation, marked by their ability to force turnovers and capitalize in transition. Their offense has been less consistent, but the Rockets have offset those struggles with relentless effort on the boards and defensive intensity.

In Wednesday’s 130-113 win over the Indiana Pacers, Houston converted 23 turnovers into 30 points and racked up 23 fastbreak points. The Rockets rank fourth in the league in points off turnovers (20.6 per game) and third in fastbreak points (18.1 per game).

Another key to Houston’s success is second-chance opportunities. The Rockets trail only the Toronto Raptors in this category, averaging 18.1 second-chance points per game. Against Indiana, they tallied 16 such points while securing 13 offensive rebounds.

“That’s offensive rebounds and turnovers from us,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Not just 23 turnovers, 16 of those were steals, so our activity was great, which leads to live-ball turnovers so we can get out and run. That’s where we came up with those 23 fastbreak points.”

Sengun Leading the Charge

Fourth-year center Alperen Sengun continues to shine for Houston, leading the team on Wednesday with a season-high 31 points and 12 rebounds. Sengun, averaging 18.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, has been instrumental in the Rockets’ interior dominance and ability to extend possessions.

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Blazers’ Injury Challenges

The Trail Blazers, fresh off a 109-99 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, are battling injuries. Missing Anfernee Simons (chest) and Deandre Ayton (finger), Portland relied on others to step up. Second-year forward Toumani Camara responded with 14 points and nine rebounds, proving his value as a versatile contributor.

“The thing about Tou is there are going to be some nights where he gets four shots and there are going to be some nights where he gets 11. It just happens that way,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “He knows who he is, and that’s what’s so special about him.”

Matchup Outlook

With Houston’s surging defense and Portland’s injury woes, the Rockets will look to exploit their strengths on the glass and in transition. Portland, however, will aim to regroup and lean on contributions from emerging players like Camara to keep pace.

This game not only provides another test of Houston’s defensive prowess but could also shape the trajectory of both teams in the NBA Cup.