Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Picks and Predictions December 1st 2024

The Rockets will host the Thunder at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Thunder are 15-4 on the season and are currently on a four-game winning streak. The Rockets are 14-6 and have won two straight.

Oklahoma City is favored by 1.5 points and the over/under line is set at 219. The Thunder are 1st in the Western Conference, while the Rockets are 2nd. The game will tip-off at 7:00 ET and can be seen on SCHN.

Thunder vs. Rockets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets
• Where: Houston at Toyota Center
• Date: Sunday, December 1st
• Betting Odds OKC -1.5, OKC -123 | HOU +103 O/U 219

The Thunder Can Win If…

The Thunder improved to 15-4 this season with a 101-93 win over the Lakers on Friday. Playing on the road, Oklahoma City entered the game as -3 point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.

After a strong 32-24 start in the 1st quarter, the Thunder’s lead was trimmed to 71-69 going into the 4th. They pulled away by outscoring the Lakers 30-24 in the final period. The game’s total of 194 points fell well short of the 229.5-point O/U line.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a win over the Lakers with 36 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, shooting 46.4% from the field and hitting 3 threes at 30%. He scored 15 points in the 4th quarter. Jalen Williams added 19 points, with 11 coming in the 1st quarter, while Luguentz Dort contributed 14 points, knocking down 4 threes at 80% efficiency.

As a team, the Thunder shot 40.9% from the field and 32.5% from three, making 13 threes in total. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 4th quarter performance was key, as he scored 15 points in the final period to help secure the win.

The Thunder’s defense was consistent throughout the game, holding the Lakers to 93 points in their win. Oklahoma City allowed 24 points in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters, and just 21 in the 3rd. They limited Los Angeles to 11 made threes on 28% shooting from beyond the arc.

Oklahoma City sent the Lakers to the line 21 times, where they made 16 free throws. The Thunder grabbed 32 defensive rebounds, giving up 8 offensive boards. They also added 12 steals and 3 blocks.

• Across their last three road contests, Oklahoma City has been good against the spread posting a mark of 2-1. Their overall mark in these games was 3-0, while averaging 112 points per game.
• In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Thunder have a strong straight up record of 3-0. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
• Over their last three games, the Thunder have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Rockets Can Win If…

The Rockets improved to 14-6 on the season with a 122-115 win over the 76ers on Wednesday. Houston, favored by 5.5 points, covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game exceeded the O/U line of 219.5 by 17.5 points.

Houston jumped out to a 35-24 lead after the 1st quarter, but the 76ers fought back, narrowing the gap to 88-82 heading into the 4th. Philadelphia went on an 11-0 run to take a 114-108 lead, but the Rockets responded by closing the game on a 14-1 run to secure the win.

Jalen Green’s 41-point performance on 60% shooting, including 4 threes at 66.7%, led the Rockets to a win over the 76ers. Alperen Şengün added 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Amen Thompson contributed 19 points and 13 boards, shooting 80% from the field.

Houston hit 10 threes at 32.3% and shot 45.5% overall. Green scored 18 points in the 1st quarter, while Şengün added 11 in overtime. Amen Thompson scored 8 points in the 4th, and Tari Eason added 10 of his 14 points in the 2nd quarter.

Defensively, the Rockets gave up 115 points to the 76ers but still came away with the win. They allowed 24 points in the 1st quarter, 27 in the 2nd, 31 in the 3rd, and 26 in the 4th. Houston held Philadelphia to 44% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Rockets allowed 12 threes on 36% shooting. The 76ers also went 17/23 from the free-throw line. Houston grabbed 38 defensive rebounds, gave up 10 offensive boards, and recorded 10 steals and 14 blocks.

• In their last ten games at home, the Rockets have a straight up record of 7-3 while going 7-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 112 points per game in this stretch.
• The Rockets have played well in their last five games as the betting underdog, going 3-2 straight up and 4-1 against the spread.
• In their last five games, the Rockets have an over/under record of 2-2-1 and are 4-1 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +1.5, the Rockets is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 219 and given that our model is projecting 245 points between the teams, we like the over.

Rockets Face Defensive Test Against Thunder Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Houston Rockets have their sights set on revenge as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in a pivotal Western Conference matchup. Houston aims to avenge a blowout loss from earlier this season while also narrowing the 1.5-game gap separating the two teams.

Thunder Staying Resilient Despite Injuries

Even without standout rookie Chet Holmgren and veteran Alex Caruso, the Thunder have proven their staying power at the top of the West. Oklahoma City’s league-best defense has remained intact during Holmgren’s nine-game absence due to a pelvic fracture.

The Thunder are riding a four-game win streak after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 101-93 on Friday.

• Offensive Challenges: The Thunder shot just 40.9% from the field and went 13-for-40 from beyond the arc against the Lakers. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 36 points, Oklahoma City’s offensive efficiency has dipped, ranking 12th in the NBA during Holmgren’s absence.
• Coach Mark Daigneault on Adjustments: “It’s similar to last season … The first time through [challenges] can be tough, but it’s good to see them early and calibrate.”

Houston’s Blueprint for Slowing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

In their lone meeting this season, Oklahoma City cruised to a 126-107 victory on Nov. 8, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 29 points in just 29 minutes.

Houston coach Ime Udoka acknowledges that the Rockets’ defensive approach was passive in that game, allowing the Thunder guard too much freedom.

• Udoka’s Adjustments: “We were back on our heels … He was getting downhill and attacking. We need to show him more of a crowd and make him guess more.”
• Defensive Matchup: Expect Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson to lead the defensive charge against Gilgeous-Alexander. Their physicality and aggressiveness will be crucial to slowing him down.

Houston has already shown success against high-scoring guards like Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards this season, providing a template for their strategy.

Key Players to Watch

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): Averaging 29.8 points per game (3rd in NBA), SGA thrives on exploiting defensive gaps with his elite ball-handling and mid-range scoring.
• Dillon Brooks (Rockets): Renowned for his defensive intensity, Brooks will be tasked with matching Gilgeous-Alexander’s physicality.
• Amen Thompson (Rockets): The rookie guard’s versatility and length will be critical as the Rockets look to disrupt Oklahoma City’s offensive rhythm.

Join for Premium Betting Tips! Register Now.

Game Implications

This showdown carries weight for both teams:

• For the Thunder: A win would keep them atop the Western Conference and prove they can thrive despite injuries.
• For the Rockets: Houston can stay competitive in the tightly packed West by protecting home court and earning a key tiebreaker.

Prediction

Houston’s defensive improvements and home-court energy should make this a closer contest than their previous meeting. However, Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to control the game on both ends may prove decisive.

Final Score Prediction: Thunder 109, Rockets 104