Houston Rockets vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 29/12/2023, 07:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 29/12/2023 at 12:00 in NBA Prediction

The Houston Rockets will play host to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Toyota Center in the NBA on Friday night. The hosts are 15-14 and ninth in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 21-9 and third in the Eastern Conference. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are in good form, winning nine of their last 11 games, and they aim to continue their success after a convincing 112-92 road win against the Orlando Magic. Tyrese Maxey led the team with 23 points, while Tobias Harris and De'Anthony Melton contributed 22 points each. Offensively, the 76ers rank fourth in the NBA, averaging 121.6 points per game, while the Rockets boast the second-ranked defense, allowing 109 points per game. Defensively, the 76ers are performing well, ranking fifth in the league in points allowed per game, giving up 110.6 per contest. At home, Philadelphia scores 123.6 points per game, which is 4.2 more than their average on the road (119.4). The availability of Joel Embiid for the upcoming game against the Rockets is uncertain, as he is listed as questionable.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been facing challenges, losing five of their last seven games and looking to break a two-game skid after a 129-113 loss to the Suns. In that game, Alperen Sengun led the team with 24 points on nine of 18 shooting, while Jalen Green added 23 points. Offensively, the Rockets rank 24th in the NBA, averaging 111.8 points per game this season, just 1.2 more points than the 76ers typically allow (110.6). However, the team's true strength lies in its defensive capabilities. Notably, the Rockets' defense has been much better at home, allowing an average of 103.5 points per game, compared to their performance on the road, where they concede 115.8 points per game. Jabari Smith, Dillon Brooks, and Victor Oladipo are all listed as day-to-day.