New Orleans at Houston

The lights go out in Houston after this game until next fall. The Rockets playoffs chase has come to a close. They had a lot of must-win games down the stretch and went a disappointing 1-7 when they needed to win. So how can you expect this team to play better now that those chances are gone? This is a huge mail-it-in spot for the Rockets. It took New Orleans nearly the entire season to adjust to life without Chris Paul leading the offense, but they have really played strong down the stretch, as they have won 6-of-8 with nothing to play for, and have gone 14-5 ATS in their last 19. This is a team that obviously hasn't quit, and to grab a win, playing at a much higher level is what they have been doing the last three weeks. Play New Orleans on the moneyline.