Houston Rockets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/25/2025

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, January 25, 2025

Venue:  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Where to Watch:  SCHN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Rockets +4, Cavaliers -4; Over/Under:  226.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Rockets +4, Cavaliers -4; Over/Under:  226.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Rockets +4, Cavaliers -4; Over/Under:  226.5 points

Houston Rockets:  29-14 (1st place, Southwest Division)

Cleveland Cavaliers:  36-7 (1st place, Central Division)

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Houston Rockets:  7-3 last 10

Cleveland Cavaliers:  7-3 last 10

The Rockets are entering this game with a 29-14 record overall this season and they are 14-6 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fred VanVleet led the team in points in that game with 26 while Alperen Şengün was next on the team with 18 points. Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green each led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Amen Thompson led the team in rebounds with 16. They were 44% from the field, 44.1% from 3-point range, and 70% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 113.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 107.8 PPG against them. The Rockets have an ATS record of 25-17-1 this season and their O/U record is 22-20-1.

The Cavaliers are entering this game with a 36-7 record overall this season and they are 21-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Houston Rockets, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Philadelphia 76ers still to be played on Friday night. In their game against the Rockets, Darius Garland led the team in points in that game with 26 while Donovan Mitchell was next on the team with 19 points. Max Strus and Darius Garland each led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Jarrett Allen led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 42.3% from the field, 31.7% from 3-point range, and 68.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 121.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 111.6 PPG against them. The Cavaliers have an ATS record of 29-14 this season and their O/U record is 28-15.

The current betting odds have the Cavaliers listed as a 4 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cavaliers have looked great in their games this season with their 36-7 record overall which leads the East with the best record in the entire NBA. They have looked great on their home court too with their 21-2 home record which is the best home record in the NBA. Meanwhile, the Rockets have also looked really good in their games this season with their 29-14 record overall which has them right near the top of the West with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have also been a good road team this year with their 14-6 road record. Both of these teams have been hot lately as both are 7-3 in their last 10 games, but the Rockets do have a bit of a rest advantage since the Cavaliers are playing this game on a back-to-back. The Cavaliers have to play in Philadelphia on Friday night so they aren't in a great situation, but the 76ers are also one of the worst teams in the East right now so the Cavs won't expend too much energy to win that game. They are going to be more focused on this game anyway since they just lost by 1 point in Houston the other night, so they will be looking to get their revenge here and will save their best effort for this one. The Cavaliers were in a similar situation already too, beating the Thunder at home and then losing in Oklahoma City on the road the next week so they definitely have this game circled after blowing an early lead and losing by 1 point in Houston just a few nights ago. The Cavs will bring their best effort to get their revenge at home where they have been the best team in the NBA. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cavaliers to cover the spread in this game. 

Rockets Cavaliers Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Saturday, January 25, 2025 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Cavaliers 116 Rockets 109.

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Houston Rockets: 26-44 ATS as a road underdog. 16-25 ATS in January games. 38-24 UNDER versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game. 33-16 1H UNDER in a road game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 19-6 1H UNDER off an upset win as a home underdog.

Cleveland Cavaliers: 33-17 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less. 30-18 ATS off a road loss. 31-20 ATS versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game. 27-12 UNDER off a upset loss as a favorite. 27-18 UNDER when playing their 3rd game in 4 days.

Houston Rockets:  J. Smith Jr. (PF) Out - Hand.

Cleveland Cavaliers:  C. LeVert (SG) Day To Day - Wrist. I. Okoro (SG) Out - Shoulder. E. Mobley (C) Out - Calf.

“We talked about it at halftime. Showed a good amount of clips of those things, and didn't really help. The same thing hurt us in the second half.” - Ime Udoka after his team’s win against the Cavaliers in their game on Wednesday.

“I love how we fought, I love our resiliency, I love our team. We’re short-handed but the guys fought like crazy. I thought our toughness, willingness to battle and sometimes it doesn’t go your way. No regrets, tough loss.” - Kenny Atkinson after his team’s loss against the Rockets in their game on Wednesday.

PG Fred VanVleet

SG Jalen Green 

SF Amen Thompson

PF Dillon Brooks

C Alperen Sengun

PG Darius Garland

SG Donovan Mitchell

SF Dean Wade

PF Georges Niang

C Jarrett Allen

PPG: J. Green (21.3)

APG: F. VanVleet (5.9)

Reb/G: A. Sengun (10.5)

PPG: D. Mitchell (23.2)

APG: D. Garland (6.7)

Reb/G: J. Allen (10)

Coaches:

Houston Rockets: Ime Udoka (2nd season)

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kenny Atkinson (1st season)