LOOKING AHEAD
According to 2019 NBA title odds, Rockets should be in the mix again
SportsMap staff
Jun 7, 2018, 5:00 am
Steph Curry and the Warriors are already favorites to win the 2019 title, but the Rockets are right there again. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The NBA Finals are not over, but with the Warriors in complete command with a 3-0 lead, it is time to look ahead to next season. The Rockets came oh so close to playing for the title, but Chris Paul’s injury and the 0-for-27 3-point shooting streak in Game 7 ended their chances.
While changes will be coming this off-season, the presumption is Paul will return to the Rockets, once again making them contenders.
At least that is what the early 2019 title odds say.
According to sportsbettingdime.com, the Rockets are expected to be the second choice to win the Western Conference at around roughly 3-1, behind the favored Warriors.
The odds also seem to imply that Lebron James will not be returning to the Cavs. Obviously, where James winds up is part of the speculation and is factored in the odds.
The Warriors are about to close out their third title in four years, and will be favored to make it four out of five. But once again, the Rockets are expected to be part of the mix. It is early, and what happens in the off-season could sway things significantly. But early returns put the Rockets right there.
Again.
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Astros eye a bounce-back before momentum gets away
Jul 9, 2025, 2:46 pm
Angel Martínez hit a grand slam off closer Josh Hader with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-6 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio also homered to help the Guardians beat the Astros for a second straight night after entering the series on a 10-game skid.
Out for a second inning after throwing a scoreless ninth and with a runner on starting on second, Hader (5-2) intentionally walked Ramírez before walking Carlos Santana to load the bases. Hader struck out pinch-hitter Johnathan Rodríguez before Martínez sent a sinker 344 feet, into the first row of the seats in left field to put the Guardians on top.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out one in a scoreless 10th to end it after Jakob Junis (2-1) struck out two in the ninth to earn the win.
Houston scored two runs in the eighth inning, with an RBI single from Jose Altuve, to tie it.
Altuve had two hits and drove in four runs, and rookie Cam Smith added three hits.
Houston starter Hunter Brown, who entered with an MLB-leading 1.82 ERA, yielded six hits and a season-high six runs in six innings.
There was one on with one out in the first when Ramírez homered for a second consecutive game, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
The Astros cut the lead to 2-1 when Isaac Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Altuve in the bottom of the inning.
Rocchio doubled to start the third before scoring on a one-out double by Nolan Jones, making it 3-1. A two-out single by Daniel Schneemann scored two more, extending the lead to 5-1.
Altuve’s two-run double cut the lead to 6-3 with no outs in the fifth. Houston got within 6-4 when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini.
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo allowed five hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Key moment
The grand slam by Martínez into the Crawford Boxes.
Key stat
It’s the first time Cleveland has won back-to-back games since beating the Athletics June 21-22.
Up next
Houston LHP Brandon Walter (1-1, 4.15 ERA) opposes RHP Slade Cecconi (3-4, 3.56) when the series concludes Wednesday.