There are nine games of NBA action tipping off across today’s Saturday slate. Tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET, the Houston Rockets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This marks the second matchup between these two cross-conference opponents this season. The Rockets picked up a 114-104 victory back on November 19th, with this matchup taking place in Cleveland. Tonight’s game will take place in Houston, with the Rockets looking to build off their momentum from their Christmas Day victory over the Lakers.

Looking at the odds for tonight’s matchup, the Rockets enter as 3.5-point favorites and hold -175 Moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Cavaliers hold +145 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 233.5 points.

This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Saturday night matchup.

Rockets vs. Cavaliers prediction, preview

The Houston Rockets are off to an 18-10 start to the season and sit in sixth place in the Western Conference. Their 119-96 win over the Lakers on Christmas Day was a lift in momentum after they had dropped four of their previous five games. Houston is 16-12 against the spread this season and the over is 17-10-1 on the year.

Kevin Durant headlines the scoring production with 25.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Alperen Sengun has taken an impressive leap forward in his development this season, averaging 22.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. Sengun is listed as questionable for the matchup with calf soreness. Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason have each shown encouraging strides in their development. Dorian Finney-Smith also made his return to the court in the previous game and will serve as a veteran presence in the Rockets’ rotation. While there seems to be some growing optimism that he could return before the season is over, Fred VanVleet remains sidelined with the torn ACL he suffered in the summer.

As a team, Houston is scoring 120.5 points per game, which ranks third in the NBA. The Rockets are producing the second-best offensive rating, rank fourth in field goal percentage, second in three-point percentage, and pull in the most rebounds per game. Defensively, opponents are scoring 112.1 points per game against them. This also marks the third-best rate, although they rank 11th in defensive rating, 11th in opponent field goal percentage, and 12th in opponent three-point percentage. Houston plays at the second-slowest pace in the league.

The Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 17-15 record on the season, which slots them at seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They suffered a 126-124 loss to the Knicks on Christmas in which Cleveland led for 74% of the matchup but blew a 17-point lead. Cleveland is an NBA-worst 10-22 against the spread this season and the over/under is 16-16 in matchups they have played this year.

Donovan Mitchell headlines the production for the Cavaliers, averaging 30.7 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. Evan Mobley pitches in 18.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, while Jarrett Allen adds 13.6 points and 7.6 boards of his own. Darius Garland has battled injury issues this year, but is listed as probable and expected to play his 17th game of the season. The two-time All-Star is posting averages of 17.3 points and 7.1 assists when he has been on the floor. Jaylon Tyson has shown some encouraging growth in his development, while Dean Wade, Lonzo Ball, Sam Merrill, and Craig Porter Jr. round out most of their notable rotation. Larry Nance Jr. and Max Strus remain sidelined with their respective injuries.

Cleveland is scoring 120.2 points per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA. The Cavaliers rank ninth in offensive rating, 19th in field goal percentage, 21st in three-point percentage, ninth in assists per game, and seventh in pace. Defensively, opponents are scoring 117.8 points per game against the Cavaliers, which ranks 21st in the league. Cleveland ranks 16th in defensive rating, 14th in opponent field goal percentage, 26th in opponent three-point percentage, and 20th in opponent rebounds allowed.

Rockets vs. Cavaliers pick, best bet

Panic mode is beginning to kick in surrounding the Cavaliers. Coming off a season in which they led the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record last year, Cleveland has not looked nearly as dangerous and nearly matched last year’s losses already. Most concerningly, Garland and Mitchell’s skillsets have not complimented each other, and Cleveland has regularly been dominated on the boards despite leaning on a double big lineup with Mobley and Allen at a regular rate.

This will be especially problematic against this Rockets team, who attack the glass with ferocity and will have the athletic advantage. The Rockets out-rebounded the Cavaliers 51-39 in the first matchup, and Houston leads the NBA with an average of 48.7 boards per game.

There is a level of toughness the Rockets possess that the Cavaliers will struggle to match. Houston also has a more defined identity, while Cleveland seems to still be attempting to find its own. Donovan Mitchell has put forth some heroic stat lines, but too often, he has failed to get the necessary help around him.

You can critique some of Houston’s crunch-time offense, but this is not an issue that should be expected in this matchup. I am backing the Rockets to put this game away early and push the margin of victory well beyond the 3.5-point spread. The Cavaliers are posting an NBA-worst 10-22 record against the spread this season, including failing to cover in six of their last eight.

While the final score finished 114-104 in the first matchup, Houston led by as many as 22 points in the second half. A late push by Cleveland made the score closer than the game really was. I am backing the Rockets to cover the 3.5-spread, but give some consideration to some alternate spreads such as Rockets -7.5 at +150 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Rockets are the more talented, tougher, and more polished team. Expect them to have full control of this matchup and produce a convincing victory tonight.

Best Bet: Rockets -3.5 (-115)