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Houston (9-3) at Cleveland (10-5)
- When: Nov 19 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH, USA
- TV: SCHN
Houston vs Cleveland Preview & Prediction
Spread: Houston -1.5
Moneyline: Houston (-120)
Total: 234.5
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Sam Merrill Experience Is Officially a Thing
Cleveland somehow keeps finding new ways to win basketball games, and this week the hero was none other than Sam Merrill, a man who shoots like he has a cheat code activated. The Cavs took a gamble on him years ago and he has now evolved into the NBA’s version of finding twenty dollars in your winter coat.
Against Milwaukee, Merrill jammed a finger on the first play, which for any normal human would be enough to retire permanently. Instead, he shrugged, said hello to adrenaline, and casually drilled six triples. Eleven of his twenty points came in the fourth quarter, because of course they did.
Donovan Mitchell was his usual flamethrower self with thirty seven points, while Evan Mobley continued his yearly quest to quietly become a basketball Swiss Army knife. The league fined Cleveland one hundred thousand dollars for resting guys last week, which is basically the NBA saying please stop having fun.
And yes, Darius Garland is still out with a toe that apparently has its own medical chart, yet Cleveland keeps stacking wins. They sit near the top of the East and now welcome Kevin Durant and the suddenly terrifying Houston Rockets.
Houston Rockets: Durant, Sengun, and Absolute Chaos
Houston last played on Sunday in a thriller that featured overtime, clutch shots, and enough drama to qualify for syndication. Kevin Durant and Alperin Sengun together have become the odd couple we did not know we needed. Sengun nearly threw up a triple double, Durant hit giant shots, and the Rockets escaped with a narrow win.
This team should not be this good. They lost Fred VanVleet for the season before it started, traded for Durant in a seven team deal that probably involved a goat sacrifice, and somehow still came out 9 and 3. Ime Udoka deserves a raise, an award, and maybe even his own parking spot.
Durant claims they were in the mud for a while. Watching Houston, it looked more like light puddles. This team has won three straight against Cleveland and walks into this one with all the swagger of a team that knows it stole something valuable and got away with it.
Prediction: Who Wins This Beautiful Disaster
Cleveland is rolling, but Houston is rolling while also wearing sunglasses indoors. The Rockets have more offensive consistency, Durant looks fresh, and Sengun is becoming a monster that requires warning labels.
Cleveland keeps it close at home, but Houston has just a little too much firepower in crunch time.
Final Score: Houston 122, Cleveland 118
Lean: Houston -1.5
Total: Over 234.5
- NBA Basketball Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
