Exciting NBA Matchup: Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets

Two top Western Conference teams, the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets, will face off in a crucial game to secure the No. 2 seed in the conference for the upcoming 2025 NBA playoffs. The Rockets currently hold the No. 2 seed with a record of 46-25, including a strong home record of 26-10. On the other hand, the Nuggets are right behind them with a record of 44-27, including a road record of 21-16. The Nuggets will be without their superstar Nikola Jokic, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

The game is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Rockets are the favorites with a 7.5-point spread according to the latest odds. The over/under for total points scored is set at 224.5. The Rockets are -276 on the money line, while the Nuggets are at +224.

If you’re interested in creating a same-game parlay for this matchup, it’s essential to consider the insights from the SportsLine Projection Model. This model has a proven track record of success and has simulated every NBA game 10,000 times to provide valuable projections. Here are the top three NBA picks for Sunday’s game:

Rockets -7 (-108 at FanDuel)

The Rockets are on a nine-game winning streak and are expected to cover the spread against the depleted Nuggets team without Jokic. The SportsLine model projects the Rockets to cover in over 60% of simulations.

Fred VanVleet Over 3.5 total rebounds (+122 at FanDuel)

VanVleet has been performing well in rebounding recently and is expected to exceed his rebounding prop in this game. With Jokic out, there will be more rebounding opportunities for guards like VanVleet.

Tari Eason Under 17.5 points + rebounds (-110 at FanDuel)

Eason has struggled against elite competition and is projected to fall short of the combined points and rebounds total in this game. With the Rockets at full strength, Eason’s touches may be limited.

Same-Game Parlay odds: +606

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These are the top picks for the Rockets vs. Nuggets game on Sunday. For more NBA picks and insights, check out SportsLine’s model, which has a history of success in predicting game outcomes.