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

Prediction published on 14/01/2024, 16:09  by Joseph King | Modified on 14/01/2024 at 21:18 in NBA Predictions

The NBA celebrates Martin Lurther King Jr. Day with a jam-packed slate of games. First up on the schedule is the Philadelphia 76ers playing host to the Houston Rockets. Philly is 24-13 and sitting third in the Eastern Conference, finding themselves five games behind leaders Boston. Houston comes into this matchup at .500 with a 19-19 record, placing them 10th in the competitive West.

The Sixers were able to put an end to a three-game losing streak in their last appearance, shutting down the usually high-powered Kings en route to a 112-93 win. It was the lowest points total that Sacramento had registered in their last 32 games and tied for the second-lowest of the season. It was the type of elite defensive performance that the 76ers are capable of as they rank fourth in adjusted defensive rating. The big question for this game is the status of star center Joel Embiid. The big man leads the league in scoring with 34.6 points per game but has missed the team’s last three games with a knee injury. 

The Rockets find themselves in a tight spot as they prepare for the fourth game in their current six-game road trip. While they have certainly improved from the team that won just 22 games in the previous campaign, Ime Udoka’s men have struggled immensely on the road this season. A demoralizing 145-113 loss to the Boston Celtics in their most recent appearance means that Houston is now 1-3 on their current east coast jaunt. Their sole victory during that time was a narrow two-point win over the lowly Detroit Pistons. The Rockets are now 4-13 on the road with  an average scoring margin of -6.5 compared to their +7.5 mark at the Toyota Center back in Houston.