The Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, November 17, at the Crypto.com Arena in a battle of two teams veering towards opposite trajectories.
The Rockets vs. Clippers clash will be the first meeting of the two teams this 2023-24 NBA season. Houston is on a 6-game winning streak while Los Angeles has dropped its last six games. The Clippers have yet to win a game since acquiring James Harden.
Read more: 3 Adjustments Tyronn Lue Needs to Check Losing Skid Since James Harden Trade
Rockets vs. Clippers Odds
The Clippers are 6-point spread favorites to prevail over the Rockets. The Moneyline for this matchup is -270 for Los Angeles and +220 for Houston per OddsSharks.com.
Seeing that the Clippers have four legitimate All-Stars in Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, the Rockets will have their hands full.
But then again, Houston has proven to be a tough nut to crack, especially with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks doing well under the guidance of first-year head coach Ime Udoka.
Rockets vs. Clippers Preview
The Rockets are on a roll and their last win was against the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Their current winning run is the longest that the franchise has had since January 2021 per ESPN.
VanVleet led Houston with 26 points while Alperen Sengun with 23 markers along with 8 rebounds and five assists.
“We’re getting better,” VanVleet said. “We can feel the trend trending upward, we’re trying to get more things done that the coaches are asking us to do, and we’re executing at a higher and higher level each time out.”
The only players unavailable for Udoka on Friday are Victor Oladipo and Amen Thompson.
For the Clippers, Los Angeles needs a breakthrough win. They have struggled to get one since acquiring Harden, something that puts pressure on head coach Tyronn Lue.
Lue admits that he is facing a tough challenge right now but adds that he can handle it via the Bleacher Report.
"The biggest thing is getting these guys to sacrifice for guys, whether that's starting the game, finishing the game, shots, touches, who's running pick-and-rolls, and things like that. Getting these guys to sacrifice will be the biggest challenge all season," Lue stated.
Rockets vs. Clippers pick
Aside from holding the home-court advantage, the Clippers should have the edge and snap their losing spell. However, Los Angeles should not let its guard down, especially for a team that has found the formula to winning games this early in the season.
Another loss for the Clippers will be crucial. Questions will be raised on the James Harden trade and Lue’s ability to handle multiple star-caliber talents per CBS Sports.
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