Houston Rockets (17-8) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5)
December 14, 2024 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Oklahoma City Thunder -5.5; Over/Under: +215
(Get latest betting odds)
The Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Houston Rockets at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday 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 have been in pretty good form as they’ve won five of their last seven games overall and they will be gunning for a third straight win after outlasting the Warriors in a thrilling 91-90 home win on Wednesday. Alperen Sengun led the team with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, Jabari Smith Jr added 15 points while Jalen Green chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Rockets shot 45 percent from the field and six of 27 from the 3-point line as they played great defense to limit the Warriors to just 37 points in the first half, but there was an element of luck in the win as the Rockets squandered a 14-point lead before Jalen Green made the game-winning free throw with just 3.1 seconds left on the clock.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder are coming into this meeting with plenty of momentum as they have won eight of their last nine games and they will be eager to build on their current four-game win streak after blowing past the Mavericks in a 118-104 home win on Tuesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 39 points with eight rebounds and five assists on 15 of 23 shooting, Jalen Williams added 18 points with seven rebounds and four assists while Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists. As a team, the Thunder shot 45 percent from the field and 20 of 50 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 32 points in the first quarter to take the narrow lead into halftime before they dominated the third quarter by 33-19 to lead by as many as 20 points.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Thunder have won 12 of their last 13 games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The favorites have covered the spread in each of the Thunder’s last four games.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games against Western Conference opponents following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Twelve of the Rockets’ last 15 games as underdogs have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the last three games between the Rockets and Thunder has gone OVER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction
The Rockets don’t have a single player listed on the injury report, while the Thunder are still missing a host of players including Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. These teams have already met twice this season with each team winning at home, so while I expect the Rockets to be right in the contest, I am leaning towards the Thunder to get the win and cover at home.
