The Houston Rockets are set to host the Miami Heat in a cross-conference clash on Thursday, Dec. 15. Read on for our Heat-Rockets pick and prediction.
The Heat have had a rocky start to their injury-scarred season, but still hold a lead on the Southeast division with their 14-15 record. After winning a hard-fought road contest against the Thunder on Wednesday, they now seek their first three-game winning streak since Nov. 27. Their best player, Jimmy Butler, is expected to return on Thursday but they will likely be without starting center Bam Adebayo and backup guards Gabe Vincent and Victor Oladipo.
The Rockets are clearly in rebuild mode, but they have had some gutsy wins against good teams this season. Sitting at 9-18 and listing only Jae'Sean Tate as out, Houston will continue a homestand that has begun with a two-game winning streak against the championship-contending Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
Here is our best Heat vs. Rockets NBA pick (odds via FanDuel; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).