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Posted at 2:55 PM EST

9:35 PM EST. The Rockets closed as a 6½-point choice in Game 1 and then went out and proceeded to destroy the Jazz by 32 points. That blowout win didn’t prevent the oddsmakers from hanging the exact same number (-6½) for Game 2. Game 2 opened with Houston as a -6½-point choice and the market has moved it to its current price of -7. We’re not going to sit here and break it down for you because it’s not about that.

The NBA has more or less turned into a three-point shooting contest. Check out the box scores every day and the team that hits a higher percentage of the triples is almost always your ATS winner. There is no crystal ball in the world that can predict which team is going to be hot or cold. In fact, Game 1 was tight as can be until the Rockets caught fire from beyond the arc in the 4th quarter and put up 39 points to Utah’s 19. Had Utah caught fire instead of Houston, the Jazz would be up a game. That said, the Rockets should have let a sleeping dog lie instead of adding fuel to Utah’s fire. Up 32 points with 2½ minutes to go, Houston was launching triples with 18 seconds left on the shot clock every time they came down the floor. Hoisting a three is not the issue but not killing the clock and looking to run up the score is. Professionals don’t take that stuff lightly.

If it was an elimination game, the Rockets could get away with it but why would they play that way in the first game of a seven-game series? All they did was fuel the Jazz to want to beat them so badly. We’re not surprised though, as James Harden and the rest of the Rockets have little awareness and we’re suggesting that Houston is going to get Utah’s best effort. The point spread likes the Jazz and we’re in agreement. Don’t be afraid to use the Jazz @ +240 in some money line parlays either.    

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