Rockets vs Cavaliers Pick: Can Houston Bounce Back Against League’s Top Team? (Jan 22)

• The Rockets are 28-14 and have the best record in the Southwest Division.
• Cleveland is 36-6 and has the best record in the Central Division.
• These teams last played on Mar. 16, 2024, with the Rockets claiming a 117-103 victory.

One of the other games on tap from Wednesday night’s NBA slate features the Houston Rockets hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Will Houston get back into the win column in our Rockets vs Cavaliers pick?

Rockets Enter This Matchup Amid A Mini-Slump

Following a five-game winning streak, the Rockets have dropped two of their last three contests. This includes a 107-96 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Fred VanVleet led a quartet of starters that reached double figures. He scored a team-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers. He also tallied six steals and five rebounds.

Amen Thompson put together a solid, all-around performance, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Jalen Green finished with 19 points, and Alperen Sengun chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds but shot 5-for-14 from the field.

After the teams played to a 57-57 tie at the break, Detroit took a 10-point lead heading into the final frame. Houston trimmed the deficit to five points, but Marcus Sasser hit back-to-back baskets, sparking an 11-2 run that helped preserve the win for Detroit.

Cavaliers Looking For Third Straight Victory

After falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 134-114 on Jan. 16, the Cavaliers have bounced back with consecutive wins against the Minnesota Timberwolves (124-117) and the Phoenix Suns (118-92). Donovan Mitchell led the way with 33 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He also knocked down four of his nine attempts from 3-point range.

Darius Garland added 16 points and seven assists. Jarrett Allen contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 5-for-6 effort from the field. Following a first half in which Cleveland built a 13-point advantage, Mitchell helped increase the lead to 23 points, courtesy of consecutive 3-pointers over the final 36 seconds of the third quarter.

Rockets vs Cavaliers Pick: Cleveland In A Close One

Despite their recent setback, the Rockets have produced in three of their previous five outings. Houston is ranked fourth in points allowed (107.8 PPG) and has the third-best defensive rating (108.3 Points Per 100 Possessions).

Meanwhile, like their opponent, the Cavaliers are also 3-2 across their last five games. And this team has little difficulty scoring, as it averages 122 points per game — the second-highest average in the association. In a game featuring one of the better scoring teams squaring off against one of the best defensive teams, look for the Cavaliers to get the win, albeit by a narrow margin.

Tags:
• Regular Season (NBA)