The most exciting first round matchup in the NBA pits the top two MVP contenders against one another, as the Oklahoma City Thunder square off against the Houston Rockets. Though the superstar battle between Russell Westbrook and James Harden will take center stage, the Thunder’s struggles in Houston should be of note. OKC has gone 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS in their past six games at the Toyota Center.
- The Rockets are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of the Rockets' last 11 games in the playoffs.
- The Thunder are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against the Rockets.
The Thunder have gotten this far thanks to Westbrook bulldozing his way to the hoop and a supporting cast full of athletic defenders surrounding him. In four regular season appearances against the Rockets, Westbrook averaged 36.3 points, 9.3 assists and 9.0 rebounds while taking 12.5 trips to the line per game. However, OKC lost three of those games because they simply couldn’t stop the ridiculous Rockets’ offense.
We all know it by now; the Rockets are going to chuck threes all night long. Houston averaged an absurd 40.3 three-point attempts per game with five players averaging at least five attempts per contest. Not to be outdone by his MVP competition, Harden has averaged 20.5 points, 12.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game against the Thunder this season.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sports bettors looking to pick the Houston Rockets as their prediction for this matchup, they were listed earlier as -6.5-point favorites on the betting odds board at Sportsbook. Those betting on the total over/under for points scored have seen that line set at 227.5 for Sunday at shops such as Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 113-111 victory for the Rockets. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NBA matchups here.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Houston Rockets sit at 55-27 (42-39-1 ATS) on the season; in comparison, the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently 47-35 (45-37 ATS). Looking to bet on the points scored total? Houston is 42-39-1 OU and Oklahoma City is 34-42-6 OU. This season the Houston Rockets are 55-27 overall and 42-39-1 ATS against the number, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are 47-35 and 45-37 ATS. As for the totals, Houston is 42-39-1 on the OU, and Oklahoma City is 34-42-6. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Houston vs Oklahoma City injuries news.
The Houston Rockets sit at No. 12 in the current NBA Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are at No. 6 on that betting chart.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively the game matches up Houston's No. 2-ranked offense (115.34 PPG) against a Oklahoma City Thunder defense that ranks No. 16 at 105.84 PPG. The Houston Rockets have averaged 46.24% from the field per game, more than the Oklahoma City Thunder have managed so far this NBA season (45.18% on average).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Thunder endured a 111-105 loss at the hands of the Nuggets on Wednesday, despite a 13-point effort from Jerami Grant at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
James Harden scored 27 points and chipped in with 27 rebounds for Houston on Wednesday, leading the Rockets to a 123-118 victory over Minnesota at Toyota Center.
- Oklahoma City is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Oklahoma City is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games
- Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Houston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston's last 9 games
- Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Oklahoma City at Houston, Wednesday, April 19th
