The Oklahoma City Thunder did not allow the Houston Rockets to go up 3-0 in the series, as they eked out a hard-earned win in Game 3. Now, the Thunder have a chance to even up the series, with a win this Monday. Will the Thunder do just that? Or will the Rockets recover? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Playoffs Round 1 Game 4 on August 24, 2020
Where: Walt Disney World, Orlando
When: Monday, August 24, 2020, 4:00 PM ET
Line: Houston Rockets (-3.5) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (+3.5) – view all 2020 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Houston Rockets (-3.5)
Regular Season Record: 44-28
The Rockets stumbled into their first loss of the playoffs on Saturday, as they took a 119-107 overtime setback at the hands of the Thunder. Nevertheless, James Harden put up another amazing performance, finishing the game with 38 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds before fouling out in overtime. The Rockets floundered in extra time after Harden committed his sixth foul. Without Harden, the Rockets played rudder-less, but Game 4 will have Houston reset with Harden. Harden is averaging 32.0 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting, so far in the series. He’s been cold from deep, with a 29.7 percent clip from 3-point territory, but he’s also doing extra work with Russell Westbrook out. Westbrook is reportedly getting better from his quad injury, but his date of return is something that remains uncertain. The good thing for Houston is that Jeff Green and Eric Gordon have been filling in nicely. Green, especially, as he is averaging 19.7 points in the series and shooting 52.4 percent on his 3-point shots.
The Rockets are 2-1 against the spread in their last three games.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder (+3.5)
Regular Season Record: 44-28
The Thunder are just a different team when Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder are all playing well at the same time. That was the case for them in Game 3, as, for the first time in the series, all three each had finished with at least 20 points. Paul had 26 points, Gilgeous-Alexander 23, and Schroder going off for 29 off the bench. Also worth noting is Luguentz’s defense on Harden. Although Harden got his numbers, Dort still played brilliant defense on the MVP award finalist on a number of possessions, catching the eye of many observers. Dort will continue to hound Harden after he finished with nine points and three blocks in Game 3. The Thunder are also outrebounding the Rockets in this series, 49.3 (tied for second-most in the playoffs) to 41.0. Danilo Gallinari, who had 20 points, four threes, and seven rebounds in Game 3, leads the Thunder in the playoffs with 22.0 points per game.
The Thunder are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games against Houston.
Writer’s Prediction
The Thunder win, 117-114.
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