Date: Sunday, December 29, 2024
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Broadcast: Space City Home Network
On Sunday, the Houston Rockets (20-9) will face off against the Miami Heat (14-13) at the Toyota Center, aiming for a victory.
In their previous outing, the Heat secured a convincing 110-95 win against the Nets. Miami committed 16 personal fouls compared to Brooklyn’s 24. They were effective from beyond the arc, sinking 13 of 34 three-point attempts. The Nets shot 80.0% from the free-throw line, hitting 16 of 20 attempts. On the boards, Brooklyn logged 53 rebounds, with 15 being offensive, and notched 5 blocks while recording 26 assists and 11 steals. Defensively, Miami limited Brooklyn to 39.3% shooting (33 of 84). The Heat achieved 13 assists, forced 20 turnovers, and earned 13 steals, while dominating the rebounding battle with a total of 56 boards, including 19 offensive. At the charity stripe, Miami was impressive, converting 21 of 24 free-throw attempts (87.5%). Overall, Miami ended the game with a field goal percentage of 49.3% (36 of 73) and made 17 of 41 shots from three-point range.
A standout performer for Miami was Bam Adebayo, who contributed significantly with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting, in addition to grabbing 7 rebounds and tallying 7 assists during his 31 minutes on the court.
For the current season, the Heat boast a record of 14-13. Averaging 112.1 points per game (16th in the league), their shooting accuracy is 45.4% from the floor. From beyond the arc, they’re hitting 37.4% of their attempts (393 of 1,050), and have converted 78.1% of their free-throw attempts. Miami averages 43.6 rebounds per game and has dished out a total of 696 assists this season, ranking 23rd in the NBA for assists. However, they do play with a slightly higher turnover rate, averaging 13.3 turnovers per game, and are committing 16.6 fouls per matchup.
On defense, the Heat force 15.2 turnovers per contest and draw 19.2 fouls against their opponents. They rank 6th in the league for assists allowed, having surrendered 719 this season. Miami’s defense allows a shooting percentage of 46.0% (1,090 of 2,367) and gives up an average of 45.3 rebounds per game, in addition to conceding 36.5% shooting from three-point range, ranking 6th in the NBA with an opponents’ points per game average of 109.4.
In their last game, the Rockets emerged victorious, defeating the Hornets 114-101. Houston accumulated 35 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive boards for a total of 43 rebounds. They committed 15 turnovers while recording 9 steals during the matchup. The Hornets fouled 16 times, leading to the Rockets taking 19 free throws, of which they converted 15 for a success rate of 78.9%. Houston struggled slightly from distance, making 13 of 42 attempts (31.0%). They shot 43.4% overall, with 43 out of 99 field goals made. The Rockets’ defense allowed Charlotte to make 37 of 89 shots (41.6%) and permitted 44 rebounds (11 on the offensive end).
A pivotal player for Houston was Jabari Smith Jr., who scored 21 points in 35 minutes, along with 2 assists and 11 rebounds, shooting 50.0% (7 of 14) from the floor.
The Rockets hold a solid record of 20-9 for the season. They average 20.0 personal fouls per game and have a free-throw percentage of 77.0%. Houston averages 22.6 assists per game, placing them 29th in the league, while also turning the ball over 13.6 times each matchup. They have amassed 3,275 total points this year, averaging 112.9 points per game, and are pulling down 49.6 rebounds per outing. The team’s field goal percentage stands at 44.2% (26th in the league).
Defensively, the Rockets limit opponents to 34.5% shooting from three-point territory (345 of 1,001) and allow 75.0% shooting from the free-throw line. They concede an average of 22.3 assists and 43.6 rebounds per game, the latter ranking them 13th in the league. Houston’s defense ranks 3rd in the league for points allowed per game at 106.3, forcing an average of 15.1 turnovers while allowing opponents to shoot 43.5% from the floor (2nd in the NBA).
Free Prediction: Bet on the Houston Rockets (-8.5)
