While the defense of the Houston Rockets has consistently ranked among the NBA’s elite since trading James Harden in mid-January, it’s their offense that has turned the most heads in recent days.
In Monday’s blowout win at Oklahoma City, the Rockets set a new franchise record with 28 made 3-pointers in 52 attempts (53.8%), and they tied for the third-highest-scoring quarter in team history with 48 points — which they also did Saturday in New Orleans. In Monday’s case, Houston even tied the all-time NBA record with 11 treys in a quarter.
Now, courtesy of the NBA’s revised scheduling formula for the 2020-21 season to minimize travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they will try to defeat the Thunder for a second time in three days.
Besides the fact that Oklahoma City (8-11) certainly wants revenge after Monday’s laugher, the Rockets could also have a tougher time Wednesday due to the absence of their floor general. John Wall, who hit 4-of-5 from 3-point range (80.0%) on Monday, is sitting out for planned maintenance on the first night of a back-to-back for the Rockets. Former Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon, who led Houston in scoring and 3-pointers in the first game, is the most likely candidate to take Wall’s starting spot.
Then again, the Thunder will also be short-handed, since leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out with a left knee sprain.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Rockets -6.5 (-110), Thunder +6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rockets -275/Thunder +220
- Over-under: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: Christian Wood 22.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Victor Oladipo 21.5 (+100 O, -125 U), Eric Gordon 17.5 (+100 O, -125 U), Jae’Sean Tate 8.5 (-115 O, -110 U), PJ Tucker 5.5 (-120 O, -105 U)
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Projected starters for Oklahoma City are Hamidou Diallo, Lu Dort, Théo Maledon, Darius Bazley, and Al Horford. Houston counters with Eric Gordon, Victor Oladipo, Jae’Sean Tate, PJ Tucker, and Christian Wood.
Advice and prediction
The Rockets were far better than the Thunder on Monday, and advanced metrics for the 2020-21 season suggest that they are the clearly superior team, overall. That said, Houston will be without Wall on Wednesday, and a “regression to the mean” performance from 3-point range wouldn’t be a shock after shooting so well in consecutive games.
With Gilgeous-Alexander out, the Rockets should have enough buffer, even if there is an off shooting night. But it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Wednesday’s margin as closer, and with fewer total points.
Prediction: 112-103, Rockets
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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