Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions November 8th 2024

Thunder vs Rockets November 8th 2024

The Houston Rockets (5-3) travel to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1) in a Western Conference matchup. The Thunder are favored by 8.5 points and the over/under is set at 219.5.

This game will be played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and is scheduled to tip-off at 8:00 ET. You can catch the action on SCHN.

Rockets vs. Thunder Key Information

The Rockets improved to 5-3 on the season with a commanding 127-100 win over the Spurs on Wednesday. Playing at home, Houston was favored by 6.5 points and covered the spread, while the game’s total score of 227 points went over the line of 215.5.

Houston set the tone early, outscoring San Antonio 31-19 in the 1st quarter and 32-19 in the 2nd. Despite losing the 3rd quarter 33-31, the Rockets entered the 4th with a 94-71 lead and closed out the game by winning the final quarter 33-29.

In their win over the Spurs, the Rockets shot 56.2% from the field, with Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet each contributing 21 points. VanVleet was especially efficient, hitting 90.9% of his shots.

Houston made 10 threes at a 37% clip, with Green connecting on 4 of them. Alperen Sengün added 16 points, while Jabari Smith and Tari Eason each chipped in 12.

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The Rockets put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Spurs to just 100 points. Houston was particularly effective in the 1st and 2nd quarters, allowing only 19 points in each. San Antonio scored 33 points in the 3rd quarter but couldn’t capitalize in the 4th, where they managed just 29 points.

From beyond the arc, the Spurs hit 14 threes at a 38% clip. The Rockets also sent San Antonio to the line 16 times, where they made 12 free throws. Houston controlled the boards with 34 defensive rebounds, giving up 8 offensive boards, and added 10 steals and 5 blocks.

Oklahoma City’s perfect season came to an end on Wednesday as they fell to 7-1 after a 124-122 road loss to the Nuggets. The Thunder, who were favored by 7 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 246.5 exceeded the O/U line of 224.5 by 21.5 points.

After leading 66-55 at halftime, the Thunder saw their lead slip away when Denver went on a 12-0 run, turning an 87-79 deficit into a 91-87 lead. The game was tied at 95 heading into the 4th quarter, where Denver edged out OKC 29-27 to secure the win.

Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 29 points, 9 assists, and 10 rebounds in their 124-122 loss to the Nuggets, shooting 55% from the field and hitting 4 threes at a 50% rate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points and 6 assists, shooting 52.6% from the floor.

The Thunder made 16 threes, shooting 40% from beyond the arc, while finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 44%. Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 9 points in the 4th quarter.

Despite a strong defensive effort in the 2nd and 4th quarters, the Thunder couldn’t overcome a 40-point 3rd quarter by the Nuggets, leading to a 124-122 loss. Oklahoma City allowed Denver to shoot 47% from the field.

The Thunder struggled to contain the Nuggets from beyond the arc, giving up 16 threes on 42% shooting. They also sent Denver to the line 33 times, where the Nuggets hit 24 free throws. Oklahoma City finished with 15 steals and 6 blocks.

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +8.5, 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 219.5 and given that our model is projecting 269 points between the teams, we like the over.

Rockets and Thunder Set for Defensive Showdown

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets are preparing for what could be a defensive battle when they meet on Friday night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Both teams are coming off strong recent performances and bring two of the league’s best defenses into their first matchup of the season.

Jalen Williams Finding His Rhythm for the Thunder

The Thunder (7-1) have been off to an impressive start this season, with their lone loss coming in a narrow 124-122 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. One player who has been stepping up for Oklahoma City is Jalen Williams, who has found his form after a slow start to the season.

Williams has been on fire over the past two games, averaging 26 points and seven rebounds while shooting nearly 57% from the field. In the loss to Denver, he came close to a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Williams’ versatility:

“He had a really good game. He had a nice blend offensively, of attacking, shooting, moving it, and defensively he always helps with his size, his motor.”

Williams’ improvement from beyond the arc has been a focus this season. After attempting just over three 3-pointers per game in his first two seasons, Williams made it a priority in the offseason to expand his shooting range.

“You don’t wanna force anything,” Williams said. “We have a lot of good players, so there’s never really a need to try and force your will. You just try to hit open shots.”

The Thunder will kick off a season-long, six-game homestand, looking to continue their early dominance. Oklahoma City has excelled defensively, boasting the best defensive rating in the league at 96.5, significantly ahead of second-place Golden State.

Rockets Building Momentum Behind Defense

The Rockets (5-3) are on a roll, winning four of their last five games, including a dominant 127-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. They are aiming to carry that momentum into Oklahoma City as they continue their quest for their first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 season.

Veteran guard Fred VanVleet, who has been a key acquisition for Houston, is emphasizing patience as the team continues to build chemistry.

“We played good teams last year, this year,” VanVleet said. “It’s another game. We know the challenge that they bring. We know the type of team that we are. We’re … kind of on our own road. Just got to walk that road and keep chipping away.”

VanVleet’s leadership is helping the Rockets focus on steady improvement rather than getting caught up in early-season results. The team is preaching patience as they develop and manage expectations.

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“We’re working through everything right now,” VanVleet added. “There’s still going to be growing pains. I think we still have to manage expectations individually, collectively. But I like where we’re at. I like where we’re headed.”

Key Defensive Matchup Looms

Both the Thunder and Rockets are excelling on the defensive end of the floor. Oklahoma City leads the league in defensive rating, allowing just 96.5 points per 100 possessions, while Houston is not far behind, ranking fourth at 108.0.

This game could come down to which team can execute better on defense, given both teams’ emphasis on that side of the ball. The Thunder’s defensive versatility, anchored by the likes of Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will be put to the test against a Houston squad that is beginning to find its rhythm under coach Ime Udoka.

Outlook

The Thunder have been nearly unbeatable at home this season, while the Rockets are starting to prove that their offseason changes are paying dividends. This matchup offers an early look at how two up-and-coming teams stack up against each other.

Friday’s game is the first of four meetings between these Western Conference foes this season. The teams split their series last year, with each side winning two games.

With both squads playing stifling defense and showing growth on the offensive end, fans can expect a highly competitive and physical game in Oklahoma City.