Houston at Portland

Houston got some bad news in the off-season and realized they will have to play without Yao for the entire season. That isn't new for the Rockets as they faced the Blazers in the playoffs last year without Yao in the playoffs and bested them team four games to two. They out-scored the Blazers by 32 points in the six-game series. Although the Rockets have some injury issues to start the season, getting what amounts to double-digits here is simply too many. Their three regular season games last season saw their worst effort at a two-point OT loss at Portland a year ago. That loss featured a Rockets team without Yao and Scola playing just 22 minutes. The Rockets have been a strong road dog over the years. In their last 26 posted as a road dog of 9.5-12 they have turned in a 19-7 ATS mark. The total is set here in the mid-180s, so a defensive battle is expected and getting this many points in a low-scoring game with the Rockets history is the way to go.  Houston is in fact 44-25 ATS the past three seasons when the total is set in the 180s. I'm playing Houston vs. an inflated line in the opener.