Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Preview
Where: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas
When: Thursday January 5, 2017 – 8:00 PM ET
Line: Oklahoma City Thunder (TBA) vs. Houston Rockets (TBA); total: TBA – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder (TBA)
As respectable as the Thunder (21-15) have been all year, the reality is they can’t really get any smooth rhythm going. Every time they build a good winning streak, they suddenly end up with a stretch of losses. It was well-displayed this past week, as they followed up four straight victories by going 1-3 in the next four.
They’ve already matched up with the Rockets twice in this campaign, splitting it, 1-1. In the pair of contests, the Thunder averaged 102.5 points (which is slightly below team and league averages) on a mediocre 41.3-percent shooting.
In trying to go up in the season series with James Harden and company, Russell Westbrook is obviously the man to watch out. He’s still on pace to put up the first triple-double season in over four decades, as he’s currently netting 30.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 10.5 assists an outing, along with an insane 16 triple-doubles in just 36 games.
With the slashing abilities of the backcourt – Westbrook and Victor Oladipo (16.1 PPG) – coupled with Steven Adams and Enes Kanter’s inside presence, the team is posting the second-most points in the paint in the NBA (50.1 per game). They have a good chance in garnering scores from the shaded lane, with the Rockets giving up the third-most points in the area (46.1 per game).
Adams, as expected following Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka’s departures, is having a great year. In his last six games, he’s posting 15.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on 66-percent shooting. Kanter, meanwhile, is giving quality minutes, recording 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in just 20.6 minutes of play.
The Thunder have lost three straight games on the road (0-3 ATS).
Betting on the Houston Rockets (TBA)
The Rockets will enter tonight’s game riding a five-game winning streak. They are 27-9, good for third place in the wild wild West, and only a few games back from the first- and second-placers, the Warriors and Spurs.
As mentioned, Houston is 1-1 against the Thunder, although it could’ve easily been 2-0 if they didn’t choke in the first meeting (where they only scored three points in the final six minutes of the game).
Still, they should be a big threat to Westbrook and company. For one, they too have a stat-sheet stuffer in James Harden (28.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 11.9 APG). “The Beard’s” MVP-type season is of course highlighted by the masterpiece he showcased last Saturday versus the Knicks, where he had 53 points, 16 rebounds, and 17 assists, a stat that can be easily mistaken as a production of three or four players. He’s also right behind his former OKC teammate in triple-doubles (9).
Through Harden, Trevor Ariza, Eric Gordon, and Ryan Anderson’s play, the Rockets own an offense that can really compete with anyone in the league. They lead the NBA in treys (15 per game) and are right behind the Warriors in scoring (114.6 PPG) and assists (25.8). Furthermore, they are also third overall in offensive efficiency.
The Rockets are 14-3 at home this season (10-7 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
The Rockets win another high-scoring game, 124-116.
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