Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 Best Bets

After taking a loss to the Bucks, we compiled our three best bets as the Houston Rockets try to bounce back.

The Houston Rockets continued their regrettable road performance on the season Sunday night with a 128-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Houston has only won two games on the road this season and aims to get a third against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are shorthanded, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland will be out for several weeks with injuries, but a high-tempo offense led by Donovan Mitchell poses a challenge for any team, even a defensive-oriented one like Houston.

Jabari Smith Jr / Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Ty Jerome and Ricky Rubio will also be out for Cleveland, and Houston will continue to be without Victor Oladipo. Amen Thompson remains questionable after missing the last three games.

Houston has to travel to Cleveland after losing the night prior, whereas the Cavaliers have an entire day of rest after dispatching the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. With injuries and fatigue always a factor, we have our three best bets powered by SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Cavaliers -3.5 (-118)/Rockets +3.5 (-105)

Moneyline: Cavaliers (-175)/Rockets (+140)

Over/under: 215.5

Our Picks

Safe pick: Houston Rockets +3.5 (-105)

With an incredibly low over/under, the oddsmakers clearly think this game will be a defensive slugfest. A win is not guaranteed if Houston can limit Cleveland’s offensive attack, but a back-and-forth game decided by a possession is likely. If Dillon Brooks is tasked with guarding Mitchell, his offensive output will be hindered, and that needs to be the main concern of the Rockets’ defense heading into this matchup.

Opponent pick: Jarrett Allen OVER 10.5 rebounds (-125)

Jarrett Allen only averaged 8.4 rebounds on the season, but tonight he has a lot going for him. For starters, both teams are mediocre at best when it comes to making shots, which means a lot of misses for Allen to grab. Also, since Mobley went out with an injury, Allen has upped his rebounding numbers. While 11 rebounds would still be a high mark for him, the lack of competition in the paint by his seven-foot teammate should allow him to get plenty of boards, especially if Mitchell and Green are firing shots.

Rockets LISTEN: Bucks Snap 5-Game Win Streak

Bounceback pick: Jalen Green OVER 17.5 points (-111)

Jalen Green has not been his high-flying, volume-scoring self recently. In the last seven games, he has scored 20 points only one time, which has fans concerned about his long-term success. Cleveland does have a top-ten defense, but most of that is anchored in the paint. Donovan Mitchell is averaging a career high in steals, but his defense is still suspect and he allows open shots more often than not. If Green can get hot early, don’t expect him to lose his touch.