After stacking three consecutive wins, the Houston Rockets (26-15) are hitting the road for a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (23-19) on Thursday. Philadelphia is trending in the opposite direction, with a 1-3 record over the previous four.
The two feature similar styles, leaning on slow paces and strong defense. Should we expect a low-scoring contest for tonight’s 7:00 p.m. ET tipoff?
Check out our Rockets vs. 76ers prediction, spread, and picks for player projections on PrizePicks.
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Rockets vs. 76ers Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
Tonight will be the first matchup of the season between these inter-conference foes. Houston went 2-0 against Philly a season ago, winning both games in overtime by an average margin of 7.0 points. However, the 76ers are 7-3 outright and against the spread (ATS) over the previous 10 clashes.
The Sixers do not carry a notable trend over the previous 10 games, but the Rockets are 2-8 ATS while the under sits at 9-1 in the split.
Rockets vs. 76ers Over/Under, Spread
The Rockets rank fourth in NET Ratings compared to the 76ers at 13th, leading to Houston favored by 2.5 points for tonight.
- Spread: Houston Rockets -2.5
- Over/Under: 221.5
- Gamer Winner Payout: Rockets 1.69x | 76ers 2.04x
Team picks data is live as of publishing and is subject to change.
Rockets vs. 76ers Injury Report
Let’s have a look at the full Rockets vs. 76ers injury report for Thursday’s matchup, via NBA.com.
Rockets Injury Report
- C Steven Adams (ankle): OUT
- G Aaron Holiday (back): Questionable
76ers Injury Report
- C Joel Embiid (ankle): Probable
- F Paul George (knee): Questionable
Rockets vs. 76ers Prediction on Spread
The Rockets carry an 11-12 record on the road compared to 15-3 at home, but the 76ers are only 11-12 when playing in the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Houston has a clear identity, ranking sixth in defensive rating while playing at the fourth-slowest pace, via NBA Advanced Stats. Philadelphia could struggle with fewer shots, as it totals 90.9 field goal attempts per game (sixth) and lacks efficiency with a 52.6% effective field goal percentage (28th).
The Sixers also lean on getting to the charity stripes with 25.7 free throw shots per contest (seventh). However, the Rockets give up only 22.4 looks per game (eighth), paired with the sixth-lowest personal foul rate.
The 3-ball is a big piece of Philly’s offense, proven by a 35.5% shooting rate (16th) compared to 52.2% on 2-pointers (29th). Once again, Houston is capable of erasing one of the 76ers’ strengths by holding opponents to 35.6 triple attempts per game (seventh).
According to Dunks & Threes, the Rockets rank 18th in shot distribution around the rim (31.3%) and 30th from beyond the arc (33.9%). They record 53.4 points in the paint per game (sixth), and Philly is 27th in shot distribution around the rim allowed.
Houston boasts a major advantage on the glass, ranking seventh in defensive rebounding rate while the 76ers sit at 24th. If the Rockets are also controlling the possession battle, this further aids their chances of dominating the style of tonight’s bout.
Rockets vs. 76ers NBA Picks, Stats for PrizePicks Today
Rockets C Alperen Sengun and G Amen Thompson play a major role in Houston’s advantage around the rim, which factors in to the projections on PrizePicks.
Rockets C Alperen Sengun vs. 76ers Projection: 19.5 Points
- Sengun attempts 65.2% of his shots within 10 feet of the basket, taking advantage of the 76ers’ high shot distribution allowed.
- The Turkish big man logs 21.5 points per game (PPG) this season and has reached at least 20 points in four of the previous five.
- His usage has slightly increased in the past five outings, with 16.6 field goal attempts per game (16.4 on the season).
Rockets G Amen Thompson vs. 76ers Projection: 7.5 Rebounds
- Thompson ranks sixth on the Rockets in offensive rebounding rate (7.2%). Keep in mind, the 76ers sit 24th in defensive rebounding percentage.
- The former first-round pick has boosted his 7.7 rebounds per game to 8.7 over 11 games in January.
- The Thompson twin has reached at least 8 boards in three of the past four contests.
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Make Rockets vs. 76ers NBA Picks on PrizePicks
Houston could be in line to dominate on the road, backed by a slow pace while crushing Philadelphia on the glass. Will the stats ring true on Thursday night?
Make your Rockets vs. 76ers picks at PrizePicks, where you can earn real-money rewards for your predictions if you’re right. Just choose players — including Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson — predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the hoops action to see if your picks hit. You can make picks on winners, spreads, and over/unders on Team Picks, now available in 30 states.
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