The Phoenix Suns got back to .500 with a win and cover against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, but the Suns were down huge in that game and needed a second-half comeback to beat a mediocre — and shorthanded — opponent.
Will the Suns overlook the Houston Rockets the same way they did the Pelicans? The NBA betting odds have Phoenix tabbed as a double-digit favorite once again, but it didn’t mean anything last time.
Continue reading our Rockets vs. Suns picks and predictions to find out what will go down in this game.
Rockets vs Suns odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The total in this game ranges from 217 to 218, despite opening up at 217.5. Most bettors are currently on the Over, but the action is pretty split there. Meanwhile, while a majority of bettors are on Phoenix in this game, the line has stayed put at 10.5. Perhaps It will move when the injury status of Deandre Ayton is announced. Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Rockets vs Suns predictions
- Prediction: Suns -10.5 (-110)
- Prediction: Under 218 (-110)
- Best bet: Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points (-110)
Predictions made on 11/04/2021 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Rockets vs Suns game info
• Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Date: Thursday, November 4, 2021
• Tip-off: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBATV, BSAZ, SNSW
Rockets vs Suns betting preview
Injuries
Rockets: Daniel Theis C (Questionable), Danuel House Jr. F (Out).
Suns: Deandre Ayton C (Questionable), Cameron Payne G (Questionable), Dario Saric F (Out) .
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 7-1 in Houston's last eight games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Suns.
Rockets vs Suns picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Phoenix was far from its best against New Orleans last game, as the defending Western Conference champions trailed by 22 at one point in that game. The Suns did, however, flip the switch from that point on, and it’s fair to wonder if that was the kick in the butt that they needed to realize that they need to play with more energy. Phoenix had looked lethargic to that point, which is somewhat understandable after losing in the NBA Finals so recently. But the team does come into this one on a two-game winning streak and will be amped up to try to make it three.
The Suns were without Deandre Ayton against the New Orleans Pelicans last game, but both Frank Kaminsky and JaVale McGee stepped it up and made sure the center position was in good hands. In that game, Kaminsky had 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, four steals and a block, while McGee added 18 points, five boards and a block. If Ayton can’t go in this one, look for that duo to hold its own again.
Under head coach Monty Williams, the Suns are 16-5 ATS when coming off back-to-back games of allowing 105 or fewer points. They’re also 40-22 ATS when coming off two wins in their last three games, suggesting that they can be tough to beat once they get rolling.
The Rockets are genuinely loaded with young talent at this point, but it will take some time for them to really put it together. Houston is just 28th in the league in offensive rating, which is a number that doesn’t match the type of scoring talent the team possesses. However, this could be another rough night shooting the ball, as Phoenix has regained its touch on the defensive end. The Suns have a defensive rating of 95.0 over the last two games, which would be the best mark in the league if it was over the course of a whole season. Obviously, that isn’t a sustainable number, but Phoenix was Top 10 in defensive rating last year and should begin to climb back to that range now.
Prediction: Suns -10.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
As previously mentioned, the Suns have started to dig in on the defensive end over the last week. Phoenix has given up a total of 192 points over the last two games, and the team now hosts a Houston group that had shot worse than 43.0% from the floor in four-straight games before putting up 117 points on 52.7% shooting against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Rockets have a lot of punch in their backcourt, where both Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green are capable of cooking defenders on a nightly basis. However, those two haven’t been very efficient and the Rockets could really use some stabilizing veterans in their rotation. Having young talent is never a bad thing, but this group just might be too young, and the Suns are going to be out for blood as they look to go over .500 for the first time this season.
It’s also worth mentioning that five of Phoenix’s six games this season have gone Under the total. The last two numbers were set at 216 and 214.5, so it’s not a dealbreaker that tonight’s total looks low. The Under is also 7-1 in Houston’s last eight games.
Prediction: Under 218 (-110)
Best bet
For whatever reason, the sportsbooks are taking a very long time to react to Mikal Bridges being in the midst of a career year offensively. The 25-year-old is currently averaging 16.3 points per game on 56.9% shooting from the floor and 44.0% shooting from deep. His shot attempts are up from 9.3 per game last year to 12 per game this season. Bridges is also coming off a season-high 22 points against the Pelicans.
Phoenix’s two-way stud has now scored at least 14 points in five of the six games the team has played this season, and it’s just hard to imagine him not reaching that mark against a lousy Houston defense. The Suns trust Bridges more than ever on the offensive end right now, and it’s only a matter of time before these numbers are closer to 15.5 or 16.5.
Pick: Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points (-110)
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