Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets odds, picks and predictions

The Houston Rockets (11-5) welcome the Portland Trail Blazers (6-9) to Toyota Center Friday for NBA Cup group play. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Trail Blazers vs. Rocketsodds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets. The Trail Blazers lost 109-99 at the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday, covering as 12.5-point underdogs. They were led by G Shaedon Sharpe, who notched 21 points. Portland is 3-1 straight up and 4-0 against the spread (ATS) in its last 4 games. It is 9-5-1 ATS on the season. The Rockets beat the visiting Indiana Pacers 130-113 Wednesday as 5.5-point favorites. C Alperen Sengun scored a game-high 31 points. Houston has won 6 of its last 7 overall and 6 straight at home. It has covered 6 in a row and is 11-5 ATS on the season. Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 9:07 a.m. ET. For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report. Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now! The Rockets (-750) have consistently won and are proving to be among the best teams in the Western Conference. Don't bet against them on the road, but one also shouldn't take them, as they're far too expensive to play here. Portland has been a covering machine as of late. It has covered 4 in a row overall and its last 2 as a double-digit underdog. The Trail Blazers have scored at least 106 points in 3 of their last 4 games, which should be enough to keep things close in this one. The Rockets have been double-digit favorites just once this season and have one of the best defenses in the NBA, but their offense has struggled. Over the last 8 games, the Rockets have topped 111 points just 3 times. Expect Portland to stay hot and at least keep things close. Back TRAIL BLAZERS +12.5 (-110). The Trail Blazers defense has been their staple over the last few games, holding the Timberwolves to 98 and 108, the Hawks to 110, and the Thunder to 109. They are 1-3 O/U in their last 4 games and 6-9 O/U on the season. The Rockets have gone Under in 4 of their last 7 games and held opponents to 107 or fewer points in 6 of 7. Considering those trends, play UNDER 223.5 (-105). For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.