Rockets vs Spurs Odds and Picks – August 11
- Defying expectation, the San Antonio Spurs are right in the mix to make the Western Conference playoffs
- They face the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, who will be without James Harden and Eric Gordon
- Get the odds, betting discussion and a pick below
When the NBA seeding games began, the San Antonio Spurs were not expected to be in real contention for the playoffs. They have found a way to pick up wins, as they so often do, and find themselves in a good position as the final few seeding games take place. Tuesday, August 11th sees Gregg Popovich’s team meet the Houston Rockets, the current four seed in the Western Conference.
Rockets wing Eric Gordon is out for this one with an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined throughout the seeding games. James Harden, recently named an MVP finalist once again, is taking a rest.
The latest Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs odds from FanDuel are in the table below.
Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds at FanDuel | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Rockets | -2 (-110) | -132 | N/A |
| San Antonio Spurs | +2 (-110) | +112 | N/A |
Odds taken August 11th
Popovich Forced to Change
Without LaMarcus Aldridge, Trey Lyles and Bryn Forbes, Gregg Popovich had no option but to alter his lineups. The young talent on the Spurs roster which, through injury and inconsistent opportunities, has not been able to flourish, was given a chance in Orlando.
Lonnie Walker and Dejounte Murray have started every game in the bubble. Keldon Johnson has been getting significant minutes off the bench. Derrick White – who is 26 – but has room to develop, has seen an uptick in his minutes. Jakob Poetl has carried a greater load in Aldridge’s absence.
The Spurs young core doesn’t get enough recognition.
Lonnie Walker IV
Dejounte Murray
Derrick White
Keldon Johnson— Simon Rath (@HawksDraftNerd) August 9, 2020
Viewing Orlando as a time to nurture these players has worked out well for the Spurs. They have not only seen their players improve, they could force their way into the playoffs and keep that historic streak alive.
Running smaller lineups – DeMar DeRozan has been playing at the four – has been a case of Popovich using what he’s got, but it could work in their favor against the ultra-small Rockets.
Rivers Steps Up
Russell Westbrook wasn’t involved in Houston’s last two. The former Thunder guard will be back for the matchup with the Spurs. Instead, Harden will rest. Without Westbrook against the Sacramento Kings, it was Austin Rivers who took over the scoring, notching a career-best 41 points. Rivers referred to himself as a ‘premier scorer’ after the game, and he will no doubt be excited to get more shots up against the Spurs.
Career-high 41 POINTS for Austin Rivers! 🚀🔥#OneMission #WholeNewGame pic.twitter.com/lJVnVUdqaI
— NBA (@NBA) August 10, 2020
The challenge of facing Houston obviously changes with only one of their superstar guards on the court. Unsurprisingly, the Rockets’ shot quality is worse with just Westbrook than when he shares the floor with Harden. They are a different offense with Westbrook playing alone – they will play even faster.
For that reason, the availability of White is key for the Spurs. White is a superb defender who could end up guarding Westbrook at times. He’s questionable with a bruised knee.
The Spurs’ defense has been solid if unspectacular in the bubble. They have done a decent job at limiting three-point attempts, though opponent’s are shooting over 37% from beyond the arc. A similar result on Tuesday and Houston will be out of sight.
Defense Is Key
Mike D’Antoni praised his team’s defense for their good record in the seeding games. They are forcing a league-best turnovers per game and their opponent’s are shooting under 32% from three. Some of that is luck, but it’s also the nature of this Houston roster – they are great at contesting perimeter attempts.
The Rockets clinch a top-five seed with a win, and the Spurs risk being eliminated if they lose. This is a game that matters, to varying degrees, for both teams.
Perhaps surprisingly, Houston have a better defensive rating with Westbrook on the court. Turnovers could decide this game – the Rockets’ defense pushes for steals, which enables their transition offense. San Antonio have the lowest turnover rate in the league. As the odds suggest, this should be close.
A rested Westbrook will be aggressive, and the Spurs might not have the paint presence to slow him down. Houston are marginally the better bet here.
Pick: Houston Rockets -2 (-110)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
