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Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns Betting Preview

The Houston Rockets bring their small-ball squad to the desert Friday night to face the Phoenix Suns. Houston was busy at the trade deadline, but it paid off in their first game with its new acquisitions as they defeated the Lakers on the road Thursday. Meanwhile, Phoenix comes into this contest on a four-game losing streak.

Houston managed to score 139 points when these teams last met and will be hoping for a similar performance this time around. They come in off the win over the Lakers and will be looking for another one.

Now playing PJ Tucker and new addition Robert Covington at center, the Rockets are starting a new trend that will not likely catch on around the rest of the league. Not going with any real big man and just having five shooters out there, just is not great.

Phoenix, on the other hand, has been up and down throughout the season and was unable to land Luke Kennard from Detroit, who they tried hard to bring in. So it remains the Devin Booker show, an explosive offensive player that was snubbed from yet another All-Star Game.

The Suns have a budding young star in Deandre Ayton and playmakers in Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre. The big thing they need to work on is improving the bench, which has not performed well in 2019-20.

The visiting Rockets are 2.5-point favorites for Friday night. The moneyline has Houston -142 and Phoenix +120.

Shooting Skyward

The Rockets had no problem knocking off the Lakers for their seventh win in nine games on Thursday night, so they will be carrying a positive mindset to Phoenix. James Harden, though, is playing the worst basketball of his career right now, as Russell Westbrook continues to lead the charge.

Covington’s role should only grow from here, especially considering what they gave up to bring him to the team. Bruno Caboclo, who the Rockets got from Memphis, should actually have a chance at some minutes given his length, size and ability to spread the floor and shoot it well from beyond the arc.

Harden is still averaging 35 points per game, but he is going to have to be seriously better. Houston won’t keep winning if he keeps scoring under 20 points. The key is when he and Westbrook are dominating together, they’re very hard to beat.

Needing A Win

The Suns started the year at a great pace, but have come back to Earth. All of their centers have had injury/suspension problems this season, leaving that position as a merry-go-round for who gets to start.

Rubio and Booker have been great in the backcourt all season and will be looking to finish the first part of the season strong. And the team should be thanking its lucky stars that Kelly Oubre Jr. did not end up getting traded. He’s averaging 19 points and seven boards and is still just 24 years of age.

To get the win against Houston, the Suns will need Booker firing on all cylinders, which could well happen. Houston is riding a lot of momentum.

Rockets Get The Win

Another day, another win for Houston. Phoenix can’t slow them down. Take the Rockets.

Free Play: HOU -2.5

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