Saturday NBA - Houston Rockets at Charlotte Hornets

2-0 Friday, 106-101-2 overall.

Rockets (-8) at Hornets (221.5), 5 p.m.

Pick: Hornets +8

Would you believe me if I said the Houston Rockets are the Western Conference’s worst away favorite against the spread in the NBA? Whether you would or not, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. The sample size isn’t particularly small either as the Rockets enter Saturday at 7-14 ATS as road chalk. I’m playing the trend here and taking the points with the Hornets.

I do think there’s some logic to this one. Often times in the NBA regular season, ball-dominant stars like Russell Westbrook and James Harden might try things against inferior opponents they otherwise wouldn’t try. Offensive possessions become more disjointed and ball movement at times doesn’t exist.

Charlotte, on the other hand, has no stars and has to share the basketball. That in and of itself could lead to the Hornets being the more efficient team on their home floor on Saturday in the late afternoon.

I think this game plays out this way at least enough to where the Hornets can cover the eight, which is all we care about.