The Houston Rockets are the hottest team in the NBA, as a long winning streak has pushed them to the best record in the NBA. Golden State is right on its tail and Houston needs to keep racking up wins down the stretch.
The Rockets’ winning streak could be in jeopardy next time out when it hits the road to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston is the superior team and will likely be favored, but Oklahoma City has a lot of talent and has played well at home this season.
This showdown is an intriguing one, and it’s a possible preview of a first-round playoff matchup depending on where these teams ultimately end up.
Don't miss the hardwood action from Chesapeake Energy Arena at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on TNT.
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Odds Analysis
The Rockets are 49-13 straight up and 32-29-1 against the spread. Houston has covered in 20 of 31 attempts on the road this season. The Rockets are 30-26-1 against the spread as the favorite.
The Thunder is 37-28 straight up and 26-39 against the spread. Oklahoma City has covered in of 31 attempts at home. The Thunder has only been the underdog in nine games this season, covering in five of them.
Key Stat
15. That’s the number of games in a row the Rockets have won coming into this one. They picked up a close victory last time out, rallying late to knock off the Boston Celtics. Houston has surpassed the Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference and would love to claim home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The lead is only a half game, so the Rockets will need to keep playing well down the stretch. They have been nearly unbeatable this season when the superstar duo of James Harden and Chris Paul is healthy. Harden is playing at an MVP level and Paul has proven to be a key addition at point guard.
The Warriors are going to be favored to win the NBA title when the playoffs begin, but the Rockets are unquestionably the main contender.
Previous Meeting
Oklahoma City got the best of the Rockets in the first matchup, claiming a 112-107 victory on Christmas Day. The game was tied going into the fourth quarter and the Thunder was able to play better down the stretch to claim the win.
Russell Westbrook led the way, scoring 31 points while adding 11 assists and six rebounds. Paul George added 24 points and Carmelo Anthony had 20, as OKC used a recipe it will aim to repeat in this one.
Harden did what he could to give the Rockets a chance, finishing with 29 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds. Paul didn’t play in the game due to injury, and that may have played a large role in the outcome.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Rockets are playing really well but this is not an easy game. Oklahoma City has already won over Houston once this season and gets this matchup at home. The Thunder has done well against some of the top teams in the NBA and should be able to keep this one close.
However, Houston is the choice to keep its winning streak going by squeaking out another win. Harden is playing at an extremely high level and he has a great supporting cast around him. Take the Rockets to win this one, but by the slimmest of margins, which means the Thunder is the pick to cover the spread. The “over” is a good choice on the spread as these teams will score at a blistering pace.
NBA Odds: Rockets 119, Thunder 118
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