The Houston Rockets (20-23) can pick up a much-needed road victory when they face the Charlotte Hornets (10-32) on Friday night. Houston has lost five of its last six games, including a 137-131 setback against Portland in overtime on Wednesday. However, the Rockets are only 1.5 games back of Utah for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Charlotte has split its last four games, falling to Detroit in a 113-106 decision on Wednesday.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Houston is favored by 5.5 points in the latest Hornets vs. Rockets odds, while the over/under is 223.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Rockets vs. Hornets picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 48-25 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning over $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Houston vs. Charlotte. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Rockets vs. Hornets:
- Hornets vs. Rockets spread: Hornets +5.5
- Hornets vs. Rockets over/under: 223.5 points
- Hornets vs. Rockets money line: Hornets: +175, Rockets: -211
- Hornets vs. Rockets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Hornets can cover
Charlotte has picked up two of its 10 wins this season in its last four games, beating the Spurs and Timberwolves. The Hornets were 5-point favorites in their 124-120 win over the Spurs, as LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. Their win over the Timberwolves was much more shocking, as they were 14-point underdogs and were able to overcome a franchise-record 62 points from Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns.
Power forward Miles Bridges scored 28 points, while Ball added a double-double with 18 points and 13 assists. Bridges and center Nick Richards both posted double-doubles against Detroit on Wednesday, while PJ Washington added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench. The Hornets have covered the spread in six of the last eight head-to-head meetings between these teams. They'll also get to face a Rockets team missing Tari Eason (leg), who leads the team in both steals per game and blocks per game. See which team to pick here.
Why the Rockets can cover
Houston is still in contention for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, and this is a game that the Rockets cannot afford to lose. They beat the Jazz in overtime last Saturday behind a career-high 37 points from Alperen Sengun. Their next game was a 116-107 loss to Boston on Sunday, but they covered the spread as 12-point home underdogs.
They came up just short against Portland in overtime on Wednesday, but Sengun had another big game, finishing with 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. The Rockets are 14-6 in their last 20 games against the Hornets, who have only covered the spread twice in their last 10 games. Charlotte will also be shorthanded without Gordon Hayward (calf), Mark Williams and the recently-traded for Kyle Lowry (not with team). See which team to pick here.
How to make Hornets vs. Rockets picks
The model has simulated Rockets vs. Hornets 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Hornets vs. Rockets, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rockets vs. Hornets spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 48-25 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
