Yesterday’s Results for Atlanta Hawks vs Houston Rockets

Sean's 10* NBA NON-CONF. TOTAL OF WEEK! 17-4?

Analysis: Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Houston at 8:10 pm et on Friday. The Rockets wasted a strong offensive performance in a 124-116 loss to the Lakers two nights ago. They're reeling on the heels of three losses in their last four games - four losses in a row ATS - and the red hot Hawks are probably the last team they want to see rolling into town on Friday. I do think this total will prove too high as Atlanta has the ability to match Houston step-for-step defensively. The Hawks enter this game having held five straight opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. Their offense has been rolling but they've also faced an extended stretch of weak defensive opponents including a stop in Dallas two nights ago to open this brief two-game Texas road trip. This marks a step up in class against a Rockets team that held them to 34-of-93 shooting back in late January. Houston has gotten caught up in trying to push the pace more than usual lately and it has not worked out well. Here, I look for the Rockets to lean on their defense to try to keep this one close enough to scratch out a much-needed victory at home. Take the under (8*).