Nine games feature on this NBA slate on Thursday with some huge matchups on the card. The Lakers head to Cleveland, the Magic face the Heat in a division rivalry, while the Spurs meet Houston for the second time in 10 days.<\/p>\n
The Spurs will be looking for redemption after falling to the Rockets just last week. They remain second in the Western Conference with a 31-15 record, while Houston sit close behind at 28-16.<\/p>\n
The Rockets have won five of their last six games after enduring a short lull while Alperen Sengun was sidelined, and will be aiming to beat their division rival for the second time in two weeks.<\/p>\n
Averaging 21.5 points per game this season, this is a low line for Alperen Sengun, likely influenced by the Wemby factor.<\/p>\n
Sengun scored 20 against the Spurs last week and has covered this number consistently. If you remove the game he left injured, Sengun has scored 19+ points in 16 of his last 20 appearances.<\/p>\n
Having covered this line in both meetings with San Antonio this season, he should be able to do so again.<\/p>\n
With Steven Adams out for an extended period, Houston\u2019s rotation has shortened, creating more opportunity for Tari Eason.<\/p>\n
Eason is averaging 7.9 rebounds across his last ten games and has hit 6+ boards in nine of those.<\/p>\n
He grabbed six rebounds in just 19 minutes against the Spurs last time out, with his minutes expected to push closer to 28 here.<\/p>\n
Assist numbers have been a pleasant surprise for Stephon Castle this season, and he\u2019s produced big totals against Houston.<\/p>\n
Castle is averaging 7.2 assists per game this year, with that figure increasing to 7.5 when playing alongside Fox and Wembanyama.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s cleared 6+ assists in six of his last seven games and has recorded eight and 13 assists in two meetings with the Rockets this season.<\/p>\n