HOUSTON @ OKLAHOMA CITY (OKC -10, 228)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
ROCKETS @ THUNDER 3/3/25
The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to roll into an action-packed showdown against the mighty Houston Rockets tonight. The Thunder’s defense has held a commanding presence throughout the season. It has helped OKC go 49-11, the best record in the Western Conference. Despite a dip in their defensive rating following the All-Star break, the Thunder has managed to snatch victory in five of six games, thanks to a surge in offensive production.
Boasting a staggering average of 133 points across the previous six games, it's clear that the Thunder have found their rhythm. Head coach Mark Daigneault credits their success to expert execution and the strength of their fundamentals, as seen in their recent victory against San Antonio by a score of 146-132.
The dynamic duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have been instrumental in the Thunder's spectacular season. The pair delivered their best performance yet this season in the win over the Spurs yesterday. Williams netted a career-high 41 points and Gilgeous-Alexander added 31. Neither player had a single turnover either.
Tonight’s face-off against the Rockets, known for their formidable defense, will be no walk in the park for the Thunder. The Rockets, however, are dealing with a few chinks in their armor. Their star player, Fred VanVleet, is benched due to an ankle injury, along with five others who are questionable for tonight's game.
The match-up is the kickoff of a challenging road trip for the Rockets. For the Thunder, it's the start of a promising stint at home. They will play at home in four of their next five games. OKC has won 12 of its last 14 games overall and 15 of the last 17 at home. The Rockets are 5-6 SU and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games. They are also 3-6 SU and 3-6 ATS in the last 9 against the Thunder.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
OVER 228
This total opened at 222.5 and has shot up over 5 points. These are two of the top 5 defenses in the NBA. Houston ranks fifth (108.8 ppg) and OKC second (106.6), but the Thunder’s recent offensive explosion has led to six straight Overs. The Thunder won 5 of those 6 games and they’ve averaged 133 points per game in the process. Two of those games were against Minnesota and one was against Brooklyn. Both teams are top 10 defensive teams.