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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.