Advanced Insight: Clippers at Rockets

• Tonight, the Houston Rockets (39-21) host the Los Angeles Clippers (42-19) in what should be a must-watch television event.

• Russell Westbrook and James Harden will have their hands full with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and company, but Houston will have the support of their home fans and the momentum on their side, having taken two of the first three meetings between the two powerhouses.

• However, a lot has changed since the last time these two teams played. The Rockets traded away Clint Capela and went all-in on Mike D'Antoni's small-ball approach. Further, the last time these teams squared off, Paul George wasn't healthy and didn't play. He's back and has been ramping up his workload since returning.

• All-in-all, it should be a very evenly-matched battle between two dangerous teams and since there will be no shortage of superstars, it should also be a joy to watch (and bet on).

• READ ABOUT what the Rockets need to do to beat the Clippers!

• READ ABOUT what the Clippers need to do to beat the Rockets!

• Let's explore a premium BetQL feature and how it pertains to this game.

Heavy Early Sharp Action On Clippers

Public bettors (62%) leaned towards the Clippers, but pro bettors hammered Los Angeles (75% of total money wagered) which resulted in the line moving from -1.5 in favor of the Rockets to EVEN roughly 10 hours before tipoff. A few hours before, nearly 90% of total money wagered was backing the visiting Clippers. SEE LIVE SHARP DATA!

Why Line Movement Matters

NBA line movement is one of the most important aspects of betting on basketball. Line movement occurs when money comes in on one side or another in an NBA game. These bets can be on the NBA spreads, moneyline, or the over/under. Line movement is tracked from where the line started - otherwise known as the “open” - to where the line either currently sits or where it finishes; known as the “close”. Line movement occurs when one team is being bet more than the other. The goal of the sportsbook is to have action on both sides of a bet so they aren’t exposed to major losses if a bet hits. In this example, the Clippers opened as +1.5  against the Rockets and a majority of bettors (public and sharp) backed LA quickly. Therefore, sportsbooks began to move the line down to even odds (a pick’em). By moving the betting line, sportsbooks are attempting to entice new bettors to play their tickets on the Rockets.

SEE MORE line movement data for this slate!

Bet this game on DraftKings! For their deposit match promotion, DraftKings will match 20% of your deposit up to $500 in site credit. In other words, a $2,500 deposit is required to reach the max (i.e. 20% * $2,500 = $500). Site credit needs to be “released” by satisfying the play-through requirement: $1 of credit is made available for every $25 wagered on DFS/sportsbook/casino. Lastly, a $5 minimum deposit is required. For the risk-free bet promotion, DraftKings will match your very first wager - up to $500 - in site credit. Site credit must be used within 30 days and is not included in any winnings.

Example: You deposit $75. DraftKings awards you $15 in site credit. In order to use this credit, you must wager $375 ($15 *25). You then place a $75 cash wager. Regardless if that bet hits or not, DraftKings will award you an additional $75 in site credit. Your account will have a $15 credit, which has a play-through requirement, and a $75 credit which can be used immediately.

Why Sharp Bets Matter

As mentioned above, sportsbooks want even action on both sides of any bet to not only avoid major losses, but also to guarantee profit. Not all bettors are considered equal. Pro bettors, known as “sharps”, are typically the players who account for most of the high-stakes wagers (and have a profound impact on line movement). Knowing this data ahead of time is an invaluable resource for BetQL users, who have a daily edge over common bettors. BetQL users don’t only have access to our profitable model, but also can follow the money and bet with the experts every time there’s an obvious sharp pick. Betting with your gut or looking solely at public betting data can lead to short-term success, but if you're looking to make smarter, more informed wagers for long-term success, you're in the right place!

SEE MORE sharp bets on this slate!

Bet this game on FanDuel! To claim FanDuel’s risk-free bet promotion, you need to make a deposit ($0-500) and be a new customer. If your first bet loses, FanDuel will refund that loss - up to $500 - in site credit within 72 hours. The site credit expires after 14 days. Unlike most sportsbooks, you can withdraw that site credit, but only after wagering an amount equal to the credit. Site credits are counted towards winnings. 

Example: You deposit $75. On your very first bet, you wager $50 and lose. FanDuel will add $50 in site credit to your account. Your account will now have $50 in site credit and $25 in cash. You cannot withdraw the $50 in site credit until you wager $50. Let’s say you place a $75 bet, using $50 in site credit and $25 in cash to win $150 and hit. Your account will now have $100 in cash and $50 in site credit. You can now withdraw the full $150.

Click the button below for our model's best bets for this game and for the other three games on tonight's NBA slate! If you're a college hoops fan, now's the perfect time to subscribe to our annual VIP package, where you'll get full access to all seven sports for a full year at a BRAND-NEW DISCOUNTED PRICE! Just so you know, over the last week, our college hoops model has gone 60-34 (63.83%) across ⭐⭐⭐, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ spread bets!