Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions December 14th 2024

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets December 14th 2024

At 8:30 ET, the Thunder (-223) will host the Rockets (+185) in a Western Conference matchup. Oklahoma City (19-5) is currently favored by 5.5 points over Houston (17-8). The over/under line for this game is 213.5 points.

This game will be played at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and can be seen on ABC. The Thunder are currently on a four-game win streak and are in first place in the West. Meanwhile, the Rockets have won two straight and are in third place in the conference.

Rockets vs. Thunder Key Information

The Rockets improved to 17-8 with a 91-90 win over the Warriors on Wednesday. Houston, favored by 3.5 points, didn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total of 181 points fell well short of the 220.5 O/U line.

Houston led 44-37 at halftime but allowed Golden State to take a 69-68 lead after the 3rd quarter. The Rockets edged the Warriors 23-21 in the 4th quarter to secure the win.

Alperen Şengün led the Rockets to a 91-90 win over the Warriors, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while shooting 55.6% from the field. Jabari Smith added 15 points, hitting 3 threes at a 37.5% rate, and Jalen Green contributed 12 points despite shooting just 33.3%.

Houston struggled from beyond the arc, making only 6 threes at 22.2%, but shot 45.8% overall. Şengün scored 6 points in every quarter, while Green added 8 of his 12 points in the 2nd quarter.

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The Rockets’ defense was strong in their 91-90 win over the Warriors, holding them to just 90 points. Houston gave up 18 points in the 1st quarter and 19 in the 2nd, but allowed 32 in the 3rd. They tightened up in the 4th, giving up 21 points.

Houston limited Golden State to 12 made threes on 31% shooting. The Warriors went to the line just 9 times, making 4 free throws. The Rockets finished with 10 steals and 5 blocks.

Oklahoma City improved to 19-5 on the season with a 118-104 win over the Mavericks on Tuesday. The Thunder, who were favored by 4.5 points, covered the spread at home. The game’s total of 222 points fell short of the 230-point over/under line.

A key moment came when the Thunder went on a 13-0 run, turning a 9-4 deficit into a 17-9 lead. After a strong 3rd quarter, where they outscored Dallas 33-19, the Thunder entered the 4th with a 90-73 lead. Dallas edged them 31-28 in the final quarter, but the Thunder’s early run and 3rd quarter dominance sealed the win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a win over the Mavericks, scoring 39 points and hitting 5 threes at 55.6% efficiency. He shot 65.2% from the field overall and added 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Jalen Williams contributed 18 points despite shooting just 38.1%, while Luguentz Dort added 11 points, knocking down 3 threes at 42.9%.

Oklahoma City connected on 20 threes as a team, shooting 40% from beyond the arc, though their overall field goal percentage was 45.5%. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters, while Williams added 10 points in the 4th.

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Defensively, the Thunder shined in the 3rd quarter, holding the Mavericks to just 19 points, which helped them secure the win despite giving up 31 points in the 4th. Overall, they allowed 104 points on 47% shooting from the field.

Oklahoma City struggled to defend the three, as Dallas hit 15 threes at a 41% clip. The Thunder sent the Mavericks to the line 19 times, where they made 13 free throws. On the boards, the Thunder gave up 7 offensive rebounds while collecting 14 steals and blocking 5 shots.

Coming in as the underdogs at +5.5, we have the Rockets as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 213.5, and our model predicts the Rockets and Thunder to score a combined 250 points. We recommend betting on the over.

West’s Rising Stars Collide as Thunder, Rockets Meet in NBA Cup Semifinals

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets may not carry the same legacy as some of the NBA’s historic powerhouses, but their clash in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday offers a glimpse into the league’s bright future. With two of the youngest and most exciting teams in the Western Conference, this matchup could set the tone for years to come.

Thunder: Depth and Dominance

The Thunder (19-5) have solidified themselves as the team to beat in the West, even in the absence of second-year phenom Chet Holmgren, who has been sidelined for over a month with a hip fracture. Oklahoma City’s “next man up” mentality, powered by the star power of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a deep roster, has carried them to an impressive 11-3 record without Holmgren.

Gilgeous-Alexander, a legitimate MVP candidate, has been the driving force for Oklahoma City, averaging 30.2 points (fourth in the NBA) and 6.3 assists per game. His ability to control games, combined with the emergence of Jalen Williams as a versatile scorer and playmaker (21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists), has made the Thunder a force on both ends of the court.

Additionally, Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped into Holmgren’s role admirably, averaging 11.6 points and 12.8 rebounds since joining the starting lineup in November.

Rockets: Rapid Ascent

The Rockets (17-8) have turned heads this season with their meteoric rise. After years of rebuilding, Houston’s patience with young stars Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun is paying off. Green leads the team in scoring with 19.2 points per game, while Sengun has evolved into a double-double machine, averaging 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Under first-year head coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets have become one of the league’s top defensive teams, adding discipline and toughness to complement their offensive talent. Their gritty 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors in the quarterfinals highlighted their defensive chops, with the game decided by Green’s clutch free throws in the final seconds.

“We’re building an identity as a defensive team,” Udoka said. “Now we’ve got a chance to show we belong among the best.”

Matchup Highlights

• Defense vs. Defense: Both teams rank among the NBA’s elite defensive units. The Thunder excel at creating turnovers and protecting the paint, while the Rockets’ physical style forces opponents into tough shots.
• Star Power: The duel between Gilgeous-Alexander and Green could steal the spotlight. Both players have a knack for taking over games and will be crucial to their team’s success.
• Key Supporting Cast: Jalen Williams’ all-around play for Oklahoma City and Sengun’s inside-out game for Houston add depth to the stars’ efforts.

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What’s at Stake

For Oklahoma City, the NBA Cup offers another opportunity to prove they’re more than just regular-season contenders. For Houston, a win would further validate their rapid transformation from a rebuilding team to a legitimate force in the West.

“It’s about winning,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We don’t care what the stakes are—we just want to win every time we step on the court.”

Prediction

The game promises to be a hard-fought battle, with defense taking center stage. The Thunder’s experience and depth might give them a slight edge, but if Green and Sengun deliver in the clutch, the Rockets could pull off an upset.

Either way, this semifinal isn’t just about the NBA Cup—it’s a showcase of the future of the Western Conference.