Houston at San Antonio

The Houston Rockets continue to advance their playoff position and have now played their way into the #2 seed and would like to stay there, so this is a big game for the Rockets as will the rest be. The Rockets are 17-6 over their last 23, and 7-1 over their last eight. The Spurs are kicking it up a notch, winning eight straight and 11 of 12, and defense has ruled the roost as usual for this team. The Spurs have allowed just 89.6 points per game in their last 11 contests, and have consequently played to the UNDER in eight of them. The Rockets have out-scored the Spurs in their two games played on the season, and won and covered all four games last season. The six meetings saw an average of just 201.9 ppg scored, and I think the total has been over-done here. The Rockets will use this as a measuring stick game as they seek to justify their position as a #2 seed, and this one should have all the intensity of a playoff game. The Rockets are well rested here with two days off, and they have covered six straight times off a pair of days rest, as well as playing 6-1 to the UNDER in their last seven on the road vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. The Spurs have played 7-1 to the UNDER when following a win. The Rockets own a 7-1 ATS record in the last eight meetings, and have had the Spurs number. Take Houston and the UNDER in this one.