The Houston Rockets have slowly but surely been climbing up the Western Conference standings over the past several weeks. They aren’t likely to catch the Warriors or the Nuggets but the Oklahoma City Thunder is within striking distance down the stretch. These two teams will face off in a head-to-head matchup that could have plenty of ramifications down the line.
The Thunder has the superior record on the season but Houston has the home court advantage, so this one figures to be a competitive showdown. Oklahoma City is hoping to hold off the Rockets and several other teams for the third seed and this type of toss-up game would result in a nice victory in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 9th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
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Odds Analysis
Oklahoma City has a record of 34-19 on the season. The Thunder has played really well of late with eight wins in their past 10 games. Oklahoma City has been good at home but has been just OK on the road with a mark of 16-12.
The Rockets are 31-22 this year. They started slowly but have finally started to find a groove. Houston has done a nice job in front of its fans with a mark of 19-8. The Rockets have won two consecutive games and are in the middle of a logjam in the West so staying hot is imperative down the stretch for them as well.
Trade Addition
The Rockets made a move before the deadline, acquiring Iman Shumpert in a three-team deal with the Cavaliers and Kings. They dealt Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight, a pair of players who had not made an impact this season. Shumpert is averaging 8.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this season and should add to the team’s depth.
James Harden is the team’s superstar and point guard Chris Paul is the main complementary piece, but the Rockets have not had the same help in the scoring column this year compared to seasons past. The hope is that Shumpert helps fill that void.
Matchup To Watch
Harden vs. Paul George -- Two of the elite swingmen in the NBA will face off in this matchup. Harden is scoring at an awesome pace, averaging 36.5 points per game while adding 8.0 assists. He has taken over many games this year, regularly scoring upwards of 50 points. The Thunder must figure out a way to keep him in check.
George is averaging 28.0 points per game as he is having a career year. Teammate Russell Westbrook is not shooting very well this year so George has taken on a bigger scoring role.
Free NBA ATS Picks
These teams are very evenly matched and this should be a competitive showdown. When the talent is close it is smart to go with the home team. The Rockets should be the choice on the moneyline, but keep an eye on where the spread checks in, because Oklahoma City should keep this one close in NBA odds.
The “over” could be the right call as this one will be played at a fast pace.
NBA ATS Pick: Houston Rockets 116, Oklahoma City Thunder 114
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