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The Houston Rockets (17-8) and Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5) meet Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup West Semifinal. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Rockets vs. Thunder odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Rockets posted a 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors last time out Wednesday, but Houston failed to cover as a 3-point favorite as the Under (221) cashed. The Rockets are 1-3 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 games after a 10-1 ATS run from Nov. 11-Dec. 1. The Over is 5-2 in the past 7 games.
For the Thunder, they’ve won and covered 4 in a row since a 119-116 loss in Houston Dec. 1 as a 1-point favorite as the Over (220) cashed.
In that 119-116 win, G Fred VanVleet scored a career-high 38 points as Houston hit 41.3% (38-of-92) from the field, and 35.1% (13-of-37) from behind the 3-point line. Houston was also a plus-5 in the rebounding department.
Rockets vs. Thunder odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 12:35 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rockets +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Thunder -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Rockets +5.5 (-105) | Thunder -5.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Rockets at Thunder key injuries
Rockets
- F Dillon Brooks (illness) questionable
Thunder
- C Chet Holmgren (eye) out
- F Jaylin Williams (hamstring) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Rockets at Thunder picks and predictions
Prediction
Thunder 119, Rockets 111
Moneyline
The Thunder (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk straight up without enough reward.
OKC did just lose to the Rockets (+190) within the past 2 weeks, too. If you were to toss the Thunder into a multi-leg and/or cross-sport parlay, it would be OK to use OKC, but not straight up.
PASS.
Against the spread
Back the THUNDER -5.5 (-115) to get the job done by at least 3 buckets. While the Rockets +5.5 (-105) have been hot lately, they’re just 1-3 ATS in the past 4 outings.
OKC has covered 4 in a row since falling in Houston by 3 points Dec. 1, while going 6-1-1 ATS in the previous 8 contests.
Look for the Thunder to exact a little bit of revenge.
Over/Under
OVER 216.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board.
The Over has a 3-2 edge in the past 5 games for the Thunder, including the previous meeting Dec. 1 in H-Town.
For the Rockets, the Over is 5-2 in the past 7 games, while cashing at an 8-5 clip in the previous 13 outings.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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