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LA Clippers vs Houston Rockets April 9th 2025
At 10:30 ET, the Clippers (-278) will host the Rockets (+227) in a Western Conference matchup. The Clippers are currently favored by 7 points and have won 5 straight games. The over/under line for the game is 219.5.
This game will be played at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood and can be seen on SCHN.
Rockets vs. Clippers Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers
- Where: Inglewood at Intuit Dome
- Date: Wednesday, April 9th
- Betting Odds LAC -7, HOU +227 | LAC -278 O/U 219.5
The Rockets Can Win If…
The Rockets improved to 52-27 on the season with a 106-96 road win over the Warriors on Sunday. Houston entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the victory. The total score of 202 points fell well short of the 226-point O/U line.
After trailing 24-18 at the end of the 1st quarter, the Rockets took control by winning the 2nd and 3rd quarters, outscoring Golden State 65-52. Houston entered the 4th quarter with an 83-76 lead and closed out the game by edging the Warriors 23-20 in the final period.
Dillon Brooks led the Rockets to a win over the Warriors on Sunday, scoring 24 points on 76.9% shooting, including 3 made threes at a 75% clip. Jalen Green added 21 points, with 10 coming in the 4th quarter, and Alperen Şengün contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds.
As a team, the Rockets shot 48.4% from the field, making 10 threes at a 33.3% rate. Brooks and Green each hit 3 threes in the game.
The Rockets put together a strong defensive performance on Sunday, holding the Warriors to just 96 points. Houston gave up 24 points in the 1st quarter, 26 in both the 2nd and 3rd, and clamped down in the 4th, allowing only 20 points. Overall, the Rockets limited Golden State to 41% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Warriors hit 16 threes at a 37% clip. Houston sent Golden State to the line 11 times, where they made 6 free throws. The Rockets collected 33 defensive rebounds, gave up 15 offensive boards, and added 11 steals and 7 blocks.
- The Rockets are 2-1 ATS in their three last road games and 2-1 straight-up.
- As the betting underdog, the Rockets have an ATS mark of just 5-5 in their last ten games. Houston posted a straight up mark of 2-8 in these matchups.
- Over their last three games, the Rockets have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 3-0 vs. the spread.
The Clippers Can Win If…
The Clippers improved to 47-32 on the season with a 122-117 win over the Spurs on Tuesday. Playing at home, L.A. was favored by 12.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, winning by just five. The game’s total points of 239 exceeded the O/U line of 229.5.
A key moment came when the Clippers went on a 13-0 run, stretching the score from 53-52 to 66-52. They outscored the Spurs 37-26 in the 3rd quarter, but San Antonio made a push in the 4th, outscoring L.A. 39-31.
Norman Powell led the Clippers with 25 points in their 122-117 win over the Spurs, adding 9 points in the 4th quarter. Ivica Zubac contributed 24 points and 20 rebounds, shooting 64.7% from the field, while James Harden added 21 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds.
Harden also hit 3 threes, shooting 50% from deep, and the Clippers made 14 threes as a team, shooting 46.7% from beyond the arc. Derrick Jones scored 10 of his 18 points in the 3rd quarter, and Bogdan Bogdanović added 7 of his 19 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
Despite giving up 39 points in the 4th quarter, the Clippers held on for a win over the Spurs, allowing 117 points. They gave up 26 points in each of the first three quarters.
Defensively, the Clippers allowed the Spurs to shoot 52% from the field, including 40% from three, where San Antonio hit 17 threes. The Spurs went 10/16 from the free-throw line. The Clippers grabbed 36 defensive rebounds, giving up 8 offensive boards, and recorded 6 steals.
- When looking at their past ten home matchups, Los Angeles has an ATS record of 6-4 while averaging 115 per game. The team went 5-5 overall in these games.
- Through their last three games as the favorite, the Clippers have an ATS record of 2-1 and a straight up mark of 3-0.
- In their last three games, the Clippers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.
The Lean
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +7, the Rockets is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 219.5 and our model has the Rockets and Clippers finishing with a combined 242 points. Our pick is to take the over.
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LA Eyes Fourth Seed with Playoffs Around the Corner
The Los Angeles Clippers are heating up at just the right time.
With a shot at locking down the No. 4 seed in the NBA Western Conference and securing home-court advantage in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, every game counts—and Wednesday night’s clash with the Houston Rockets could bring them one step closer.
Currently tied with three other teams in the standings, the Clippers (47-32) sit in fourth via tiebreaker after winning 15 of their last 18 games. That kind of late-season form is the stuff contenders are made of.
Clippers Continue Rolling with or Without Kawhi
Their latest win? A 122-117 grind-it-out over a short-handed Spurs team, with Ivica Zubac absolutely dominating the paint—dropping 24 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 assists.
That stat line put him in rare air: only Elton Brand has put up a similar performance for the Clippers in the past 40 years.
Zubac now has four 20-20 games this season, second only to Nikola Jokic in the entire league.
Kawhi Leonard sat this one out due to injury management, but James Harden picked up the slack with 21 points and 12 assists. Norman Powell poured in 25 off the bench, proving once again that this team’s depth is real.
Coach Tyronn Lue summed it up perfectly:
“If we were able to get home court, that would be very special, especially how we’re playing at home.”
The Clippers are a dominant 29-11 at Crypto.com Arena.
Rockets Shift Focus to Playoff Readiness
The Houston Rockets have little left to fight for with the No. 2 seed locked in, especially after the Lakers’ loss to the Thunder. Now it’s about staying healthy and sharp for the playoffs.
Sunday’s 106-96 win over Golden State showed the Rockets aren’t just cruising—they’re still playing hard.
Dillon Brooks (24 points) and Jalen Green (21 points) led the charge, while Alperen Sengun added 19 points and 14 boards in a gritty team effort.
The story of the night? Rookie Amen Thompson, who silenced the Bay with an elite defensive performance—holding Steph Curry to just three points on 1-of-10 shooting. In front of a hometown crowd, he rose to the occasion.
“I was extra motivated trying to get a win up here,” Thompson said.
Coach Ime Udoka didn’t hold back, either. He exchanged words with Curry just before halftime in a heated moment that felt like a playoff preview.
“This is the kind of game we like,” Udoka said. “This is who we are.”
Injury Watch and Strategy Shifts
Houston may play it safe with their rotation as they close out the season.
- Fred VanVleet (ankle) is listed as doubtful
- Alperen Sengun (back) and Jabari Smith Jr. (groin) are both questionable
With two more regular season games remaining, the Rockets may prioritize rest over wins as they gear up for what could be a deep playoff run.
