Houston Rockets (5-3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1)
November 8, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Oklahoma City Thunder -8.5; Over/Under: +220.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Houston Rockets travel to the Paycom Center to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. Here’s an Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction. This article will include an Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Pick.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are starting to heat up now as they’ve won four of their past five games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after routing the Spurs in a 127-100 home win on Wednesday. Fred VanVleet led the team with 21 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists on 10 of 11 shooting, Jalen Green added 21 points with four assists while Alperen Sengun chipped in with 16 points and four assists. As a team, the Rockets shot 56 percent from the field and 10 of 27 from the 3-point line as they dominated right from the start, outscoring the Spurs by 63-38 in the first half, allowing the Rockets to rest their starters early. The Rockets will meet the Pistons after this game.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been on fire as they had won their first seven games of the season before they got stopped in their tracks by the Nuggets in a 124-122 road defeat on Wednesday. Jalen Williams led the team with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points with six assists while Chet Holmgren chipped in with 15 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the Thunder shot 44 percent from the field and 16 of 40 from the 3-point line as they looked to be in control when they poured in 66 points in the first half to take a 16-point lead, only to get run down in the fourth quarter where the Nuggets went on a pivotal 11-2 run to snatch the game away.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Thunder have won each of their last six home games against Southwest Division opponents following a loss.
- The Rockets have lost 30 of their last 37 road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in eight of their last nine home games against Southwest Division opponents following a loss.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games at Paycom Center against Thunder teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Rockets’ last four road games has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Ten of the Thunder’s last 12 games as favorites following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder Player Facts
- Jalen Williams ranks 1st in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (2.3) this season.
- Chet Holmgren ranks 2nd in the league for total steals + blocks (31) this season.
Houston Rockets Player Facts
- Alperen Sengun ranks 7th amongst qualified players for rebounds per 36 minutes (14.4) this season.
- Fred VanVleet ranks 8th amongst qualified players for assist:turnover ratio (6.1) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Thunder rank 1st in the league for opponent points per game this season (99.4).
- The Thunder rank 30th in the league for opponent rebounds per game this season (50.1).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for opponent assists per game this season (22.0).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (14.8).
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction
The Rockets are still keeping an eye on Steven Adams who is listed as questionable, while the Thunder are still missing Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams. The Rockets are coming into this meeting with plenty of momentum and a win over the red-hot Thunder would do wonders for their confidence. However, the Thunder just suffered their first defeat of the season and they are deserved favorites in this one given how well they’ve played so far, especially on the defensive end. This should be a close one, so while I like the Thunder to bounce back and get the win, I am leaning toward the Rockets with the points in this spot.
