NBA Picks: Celtics Favored in Betting Odds vs Rockets

The Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets will both be gunning for a victory on Friday night at 8:30pm EST when they meet at the Toyota Center in a game that can be seen on Fox Sports Net Houston or NBA-TV. NBA picks have the Celtics listed as 3-point favorites versus the Rockets while the game's total is sitting at 203.5. The Celtics had no problem with the New York Knicks on Wednesday night cruising to a 109-97 victory at home. The Celtics managed to cover the 9-point spread in NBA betting odds for that contest while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total of 209.5 at online sportsbooks.

Paul Pierce netted 29 points with six rebounds while Kevin Garnett added 22 to lift the Celtics to their third straight victory at home. "We focus on our turnovers being down. We focus on our blocked shots and our rebounds. Other than that, our scoring is going to come from different places [each] night," Garnett said after the game. "I ran the floor as good as I've been doing this year." Heading into tonight's game on NBA-TV, the Celtics are 43-24 straight up on the season, 27-39-1 against the spread as favorites in NBA picks and 5-5 after playing the Knicks.

The Rockets dominated in the second half and defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 107-94 on Wednesday. The Rockets covered the 5-point spread as favorites in NBA picks while the 201 points went UNDER the posted total of 212.5 at online sportsbooks. Aaron Brookes led the way with 31 points and five rebounds for the Rockets. Luis Scola added 20 points to lift the Rockets tot their fourth straight win. "Kind of a weird experience," said Brooks after the game. "I don't think I've ever shot 7 for 7 in a game, a pickup game or anything like that. Some of the shots were off-balance, I don't know. It just felt good."

Heading into tonight's game on NBA-TV, the Rockets are 35-31 straight up, 31-35 against the spread in NBA picks and 7-3 after playing the Grizzlies. Houston is 5-1 straight up in their last 6 games at home and 5-1 straight up for their last 6 games overall. Boston is 5-1 straight up and against the spread in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston. The NBA betting total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston. Vegas odds at the Hilton sportsbook have the Boston Celtics -2 favorites against the Houston Rockets with a total of 203.