Yahoo! Sports reported Wednesday night that the Kings have agreed to send Robinson to the Houston Rockets along with Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt in exchange for Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas. USA Today reported that the Kings, in the process of being sold, also received $1 million in the transaction.

In advance of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, Houston also is dealing forward Marcus Morris to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a second-round draft pick in June, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

Morris, averaging 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in Houston, will join his twin brother, Markieff Morris, in Phoenix.

The Kings will raise eyebrows by giving up so soon on such a high pick, but the move saves more than $3 million in payroll this season and reunites star forward DeMarcus Cousins with Patterson, his former Kentucky teammate.

Patterson, Aldrich and Douglas walked out of the Toyota Center just as Houston was starting its game against Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. The Rockets came into the game holding the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference and the moves were unexpected.

The 6-foot-9 Patterson had started 38 games for Houston this season and was the Rockets’ fourth-leading scorer, averaging 11.6 points. Douglas was acquired in the offseason in a trade with New York and played in 49 games backing up Jeremy Lin. The 6-11 Aldrich, acquired in the James Harden trade with Oklahoma City just before the season, averaged 1.7 points in 30 games for Houston this season.

Sacramento had high hopes for the 6-10 Robinson, but he’s disappointed so far, averaging only 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16 minutes per game.

Kings general manager Geoff Petrie had hinted that he’d only make minor moves before the trade deadline because of the pending purchase agreement that could move the franchise to Seattle next season.

Marcus Morris was all smiles about the deal on Wednesday night, even though the Suns entered their game against Golden State with the worst record in the West (18-36).

“It’s my first trade,” Morris said. “All I kept hearing was, it’s a business. It happens. I mean, it does happen. I’m excited to see where my career can go from here.

Suns coach Lindsey Hunter wouldn’t talk about the deal specifically, but acknowledged that Phoenix is building for the future.

“We’re trying to get better,” he said. “We’re trying to build a foundation of something that we hope will last.”

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Denver At Houston
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), Comcast SportsNet Houston, NBATV
Prediction: Nuggets 109, Rockets 104

Denver has some of the same problems as Houston on the defensive end but has usually been able to make up for it on offense. After a surprising 112-108 home loss to one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Washington Wizards, on Friday, the Nuggets took out the best when they outlasted the Thunder on Sunday 121-118. Seven players reached double figures in scoring in the win over Oklahoma City, and that balance along with a strong rebounding philosophy has helped Denver go 14-6 over the last 20 contests. Wednesday marks a rare one-game road trip for the Nuggets, who will be back in Colorado for a six-game homestand beginning on Saturday. Denver is 16-3 at home but 9-15 on the road

In their last action, Denver was a 121-118 winner at home against the Thunder. They covered the 1-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (239) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 25-18 SU, 24-19 ATS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 5 games
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Sacramento are 9-1
After playing Oklahoma City are 6-4
After a win are 6-4

Of Harden’s 29 points on Monday, 19 came at the free throw line. The star guard is shooting 25 percent from the floor over the last four games, including 4-of-27 from 3-point range. Harden has also turned the ball over 4.9 times in the last eight contests. The bench came through for 47 points in the win at Charlotte to help take some of the pressure off Harden, Jeremy Lin and the rest of the starters. The Rockets held a players-only meeting over the weekend to address some of the effort issues on the defensive end and looked stronger in that area against the Bobcats. The recent slide has dipped the Rockets into eighth place in the Western Conference, and three of the next four will be on the road to close out January.

Last time out for Houston, they were a 100-94 winner as they battled the Bobcats on the road. The Rockets failed to cover in the match as a 7-point favorite, while 194 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 22-21 SU, 21-21-1 ATS
The total has gone OVER in 6 of last 7 games at home
is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home
is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Denver
is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Denver
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing New Orleans are 4-6
After playing Charlotte are 5-5
After a win are 8-2

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Atlanta At Houston
When: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, December 31, 2012
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Prediction: Rockets 102, Hawks 97

Oddsmakers currently have the Rockets listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Hawks, while the game’s total is sitting at 206½.

Atlanta is averaging an impressive 107.3 points during its four-game winning streak. A big reason as to why is Lou Williams, who quickly has become acclimated to his new role as a starter. Williams is averaging 17.8 points and 6.5 assists during that stretch. The 26-year-old guard collected his third double-double with 21 points and a career-high 12 assists versus Indiana.

The Hawks were a 109-100 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Pacers. They covered the 2.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (209) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 19-9 SU, 12-15-1 ATS
Current streak: won 4 straight games.

is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston

When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing New Orleans are 8-2
After playing Indiana are 4-6
After a win are 6-4

Houston: James Harden quickly endeared himself to his new team by scoring a career-high 45 points in a 109-102 victory over the Hawks on Nov. 2. Harden has been torching the competition, recording at least 20 points in a career-high 12 consecutive games. Harden scored 25 against his former team in Oklahoma City. Houston has emerged victorious in its last four meetings with Atlanta.

In their last action, Houston was a 124-94 loser at home against the Thunder. They failed to cover the 4.5-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (218) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 16-14 SU, 16-13-1 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 6 games
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta

When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing New Orleans are 3-7
After playing Oklahoma City are 4-6
After a loss are 5-5

The post Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.