Game 1 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets Western Conference Quarterfinals series tips off Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET in the Orlando bubble. We analyze the Thunder-Rockets NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Thunder vs. Rockets: Key injuries
Thunder
- SF Luguentz Dort (knee) out
Rockets
- PG Russell Westbrook (quad) out
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Thunder vs. Rockets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Thunder 114, Rockets 108
Moneyline (ML)
Series Prices:
- Rockets (-152)
- Thunder (+120)
They say “styles make fights” well the THUNDER (-110) have a great style to make things difficult on the Rockets (-110) in this series. What do we know Houston likes to do? They like to play up-tempo, shoot a bunch of threes and get to the charity stripe.
Well, Oklahoma City is 22nd in pace (with PG Chris Paul aka “The Point God” being the master of tempo). Their opponents have the second-lowest 3-point percentage and the third-best free-throw attempts per field-goal attempts in the NBA.
The Thunder’s three-headed guard monster of Dennis Schroder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Paul would make for the matchup of the first round if Houston’s side was fully healthy.
Obviously the absence of Westbrook is major and especially so when rebounding is a huge question mark for the Rockets. Also, Rockets SG Eric Gordon is starting for Westbrook, which hurts Houston’s depth. He has been battling his own leg injury and played only the final two games of the regular-season restart.
Like CP3, James Harden and Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni have come up short time after time in the postseason throughout their careers. Since neither side has a lot of playoff success to speak to, we’ll call it a draw in postseason experience.
However, here’s what I’ll say in support of CP3: Paul has a little better excuse since he broke down at the end of many seasons throughout his career. It wasn’t so much that he was outplayed (that has happened as well) but he and/or teammates have been hampered by injury at the end of seasons. In Harden and D’Antoni’s case, they were figured out in several seven-game series.
I LOVE THUNDER (-110).
New to sports betting? A $110 bet on the Thunder (-110) earns a $100 profit if OKC beats Houston.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
This game is pretty much a pick ’em: PASS ON THE SPREAD.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Rockets’ totals get overpriced because of their reputation. Houston has a 30-42 Over/Under record this season and six of their eight bubble games finished Under the projected total.
When playing winning teams, the Thunder-Rockets combined Over/Under record is 24-37 this season. I LIKE UNDER 224.5 (-110).
New to sports betting? A $27.50 wager on Under 224.5 (-110) returns a $25 profit if Thunder-Rockets combine for 225 or more points.
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