The Houston Rockets (5-3) travel to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1) on Friday, November 8th. This game will be played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and televised on SCHN. The Rockets are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Thunder are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Thunder. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.
Rockets vs Thunder
The Rockets Are Coming Off A Win
The Rockets improved to 5-3 this season with a 127-100 win over the Spurs on Wednesday. Playing at home, Houston entered the game as -6.5 favorites and covered the spread with a dominant +27 margin. The total points for the game reached 227, surpassing the O/U line of 215.5 by 11.5 points.
Houston set the tone early, outscoring San Antonio 31-19 in the 1st quarter and 32-19 in the 2nd. The Spurs edged the Rockets 33-31 in the 3rd, but Houston entered the 4th with a 94-71 lead and finished strong, winning the final quarter 33-29.
The Thunder Are Coming Off A Win
The Thunder’s season record dropped to 7-1 after a 124-122 loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday. Oklahoma City, who were -7 point favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total score of 246 points exceeded the O/U line of 224.5 by 21.5 points.
Oklahoma City led 66-55 at halftime, but a 12-0 run by Denver shifted the momentum, taking the score from 87-79 to 91-87. The game was tied at 95 heading into the 4th quarter, where the Nuggets edged out the Thunder 29-27.
Rockets Offense Breakdown
Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet each scored 21 points in the Rockets’ 127-100 win over the Spurs, with VanVleet shooting 90.9% from the field. Green hit 4 threes at a 44.4% clip, while the Rockets connected on 10 threes as a team, shooting 37% from beyond the arc.
Houston shot 56.2% from the field overall, with Alperen Sengun adding 16 points and 5 rebounds. VanVleet scored 9 points in the 1st quarter, while Green added 7 points in the 4th.
Thunder Offense Breakdown
Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 29 points, 9 assists, and 10 rebounds in their 124-122 loss to the Nuggets, shooting 55% from the field and hitting 4 threes at a 50% clip. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and 10 boards, despite shooting just 35.7%.
Oklahoma City connected on 16 threes, shooting 40% from deep, while their overall field goal percentage was 44%. Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 9 points in the 4th quarter.
Rockets Team Defense
The Rockets’ defense set the tone early, allowing just 19 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters, helping them cruise to a 127-100 win over the Spurs. Even with a 33-point 3rd quarter from San Antonio, Houston’s early defensive efforts were enough to secure the victory.
Houston held the Spurs to 44% shooting, including 38% from three, where San Antonio hit 14 threes. The Rockets also limited the Spurs’ trips to the line, with San Antonio making 12 of 16 free throws. Houston finished with 34 defensive rebounds, allowed 8 offensive boards, and recorded 10 steals and 5 blocks.
Thunder Team Defense
The Rockets’ defense was strong in the 1st and 2nd quarters, giving up just 19 points in each, as they held the Spurs to 100 points in a 127-100 win. Houston allowed 33 points in the 3rd quarter and 29 in the 4th but still managed to keep San Antonio at bay.
From beyond the arc, the Rockets limited the Spurs to 14 threes on 38% shooting. Houston also sent San Antonio to the line 16 times, where they made 12 free throws. The Rockets grabbed 34 defensive rebounds, allowed 8 offensive boards, and recorded 10 steals and 5 blocks.
Rockets vs Thunder Trends
- Houston has played well in their previous 5 road games, going 4-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 110 points per game while allowing 104. The team also performed well vs the spread at 4-1.
- The Thunder are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games and 2-1 straight-up.
- Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Houston has an ATS mark of 6-4 while going 5-5 straight up.
- Oklahoma City has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 2-1 SU and 2-1 ATS in their last three games.
Rockets vs Thunder Prediction
The Rockets come in as the underdog at +8.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 219.5 and our model has the Rockets and Thunder finishing with a combined 269 points. Our pick is to take the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:November 8, 2024 Rockets, Thunder