Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Predictions, Odds, Picks

• Despite a decent start to the season, the Thunder have now lost five straight games.
• The Rockets look to extend their winning streak to three games on the first leg of a home-and-home with the Thunder.
• The Rockets and Thunder split their season series last year, 1-1.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Odds

Odds provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Predictions and Picks

Likely missing their most capable scoring option, the Houston Rockets have a tough match ahead of them. It should be a blue-collar battle, with the Thunder coming out with a win due to their superior individual talent and strength on the boards.

Pick:

Oklahoma City Thunder def. Houston Rockets (+110)

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How can the Thunder beat the Rockets?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are filled to the brim with young talent, but they’ve not been able to put it all together on a consistent basis. If they want to beat the Rockets, they must be efficient with their offence.

The Thunder are on a five-game losing streak, and in that span of time, they were shooting an average of 40.2% from the field and 33.5% from three.

While they were assisting on 58% of their field goals, they just weren’t able to get their offence going with efficiency. If they can push the pace, and find some easy baskets in transition, the Thunder already have the defensive chops to beat the Rockets.

Thunder Key Player: (G) Luguentz Dort

#GLeagueAlum Lu Dort has taken his game to the next level! He’s averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, FG%, and FT%. ⚡️ @luthebeast

17.1 points | 4.4 rebounds | 84.5% FT pic.twitter.com/T5ZhQANBs5

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 26, 2021

The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off of a disappointing loss to the Washington Wizards. Leading them in the scoring department was Canadian three-and-D threat, Luguentz Dort.

In 35 minutes against the Wizards, Dort posted 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. He was only 2 of 6 from the three-point line, but he made up for it by going 5 of 5 from the free throw line.

As one of the Thunder’s few offensive threats, Dort needs to be aggressive on a rather thin Rockets perimeter defence. If his shot isn’t falling, he needs to be willing to delegate or find opportunities at the rim.

How can the Rockets beat the Thunder?

The Houston Rockets have won two straight games, and it has mostly been due to their prolific offence. If they want to beat the Thunder, they will need to get out of the gates quickly.

In their overtime victory over the Charlotte Hornets, the Houston Rockets were aggressive from tip-off. Houston posted 43 points in the first quarter of their last game, but gave up 41 in the following quarter.

Houston need to find balance. Their offence is their best weapon, but if they give it away as the game flows it is pointless. The Thunder aren’t the most offensively adept team, so buckling down on defence while still pushing the pace should win them the game.

Rockets Key Player: (G) Kevin Porter Jr.

Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. put up HUGE stat lines last night to lead the Rockets to the W. ? #GLeagueAlum

Wood: 33 PTS, 16 REB, 13-19 FG
Porter Jr: 23 PTS, 12 AST, 8 REB pic.twitter.com/h7R4StAm1J

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 28, 2021

While there have been many critics of Kevin Porter Jr.’s role as a point guard for the Houston Rockets, you have to admit he shows some flashes of brilliance.

In an overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Rockets guard posted 23 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds in 42 minutes of play. He accounted for a third of the Rockets’ 36 assists on the evening.

When they face off against the Thunder, Porter will need to navigate two fantastic defenders in Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort. If he can overcome Oklahoma City’s energetic defenders, the Rockets have every opportunity to win this game.

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