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(NBA) San Antonio vs. Houston,
Total: 214.00 | -109.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 214.00 | -109.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: Houston and San Antonio have traded blowout victories to open this series, as the Rockets shocked the Spurs in Game 1, winning by 27 points while heaving up 50 three-pointers (made 22). However, the Spurs delivered their own version of a beat down in Game 2, winning by 25 points as Leonard scored 34 points (shot 13 of 16 from the floor) and Harden struggled badly for the Rockets, scoring only 13 points while shooting 3 of 17! One team will take a 2-1 lead after tonight's Game 3 in Houston but the Spurs will play the rest of the series (postseason) without veteran PG Tony Parker, who ruptured his left quadriceps near the end of Game 2
San Antonio: Parker had a poor regular season but was having a rebirth in the playoffs, averaging 15.9 PPG on 52.5 percent shooting (including 57.95 on threes), despite a scoreless Game 2 against Memphis. However, it will now be up to Patty Mills to step up and lessen Parker's loss. "I can tell you one thing, that we're all ready," Mills said after Game 2. "We're all ready to step up and make an impact." San Antonio will also need LaMarcus Aldridge to step up. He was signed to a max contract prior to last season but sure hasn't played like a "max" player this postseason. He's averaging just 13.5 PPG on 43.3 percent shooting (down from 47.7% in the regular seaosn) and after making 41.1% on threes this year, he's 0 for 6 in the postseason.
Houston: The Rockets have to be happy with a split in San Antonio but it's fair for them to be concerned over Harden's recent play. He made just 13 of 41 shots (31.7%), including 2 of 20 on threes, in the final two games vs. OKC. Here in this series, he averaged only 16.5 PPG while shooting 9 of 30 (30.0%), including 5 of 17 on threes. Harden has averaged 12 assists in the two contests but his overall numbers are a significant drop-off from the regular season, when he averaged 29.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 11.8 assists in four games against the Spurs.
The pick: The Rockets blitzed the Spurs in Game 1 but surrendered that momentum with a fourth-quarter collapse in Game 2 (SA outscored Houston 33-13 in the final period). One team will be up 2-1 after Game 3 but I'm not sure which one. However, the Rockets are averaging 116.9 PPG at home (including the playoffs). The winner of the first two games has scored 126 and 121 points plus the last two meetings of the regular season between these two teams saw those games average 220.5 points. Make the Over an 8* Play
San Antonio: Parker had a poor regular season but was having a rebirth in the playoffs, averaging 15.9 PPG on 52.5 percent shooting (including 57.95 on threes), despite a scoreless Game 2 against Memphis. However, it will now be up to Patty Mills to step up and lessen Parker's loss. "I can tell you one thing, that we're all ready," Mills said after Game 2. "We're all ready to step up and make an impact." San Antonio will also need LaMarcus Aldridge to step up. He was signed to a max contract prior to last season but sure hasn't played like a "max" player this postseason. He's averaging just 13.5 PPG on 43.3 percent shooting (down from 47.7% in the regular seaosn) and after making 41.1% on threes this year, he's 0 for 6 in the postseason.
Houston: The Rockets have to be happy with a split in San Antonio but it's fair for them to be concerned over Harden's recent play. He made just 13 of 41 shots (31.7%), including 2 of 20 on threes, in the final two games vs. OKC. Here in this series, he averaged only 16.5 PPG while shooting 9 of 30 (30.0%), including 5 of 17 on threes. Harden has averaged 12 assists in the two contests but his overall numbers are a significant drop-off from the regular season, when he averaged 29.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 11.8 assists in four games against the Spurs.
The pick: The Rockets blitzed the Spurs in Game 1 but surrendered that momentum with a fourth-quarter collapse in Game 2 (SA outscored Houston 33-13 in the final period). One team will be up 2-1 after Game 3 but I'm not sure which one. However, the Rockets are averaging 116.9 PPG at home (including the playoffs). The winner of the first two games has scored 126 and 121 points plus the last two meetings of the regular season between these two teams saw those games average 220.5 points. Make the Over an 8* Play
