The Houston Rockets are ready to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in what will be an entertaining one. After balancing their record last season, the Rockets are ready to fight against the team that was in a dominant shape. This first meeting might help to understand at least on which level these teams will play in the regular season. For those seeking NBA free tips and advice, this particular game will be the game to gauge the preseason form and team bonding.
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 10/9/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Paycom Center |
| TV: | NBAt |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Houston Rockets (41-41 Last season) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25 Last season)
Last season, the Houston Rockets ended at .500, showcasing their flexibility but failing to measure up to rally a consistent performance. Offensively, they scored an average of 114.3 points with a 45.9% shooting accuracy. They were effective, especially from a distance, making 12.7 3-point shots each game at a 35.2% success rate. Their execution against elite teams such as the Golden State Warriors proved otherwise and redevelopment for the team was highly sought after. The strong seek to change this during the current season and turn the narrow losses into wins.
Conversely, the Oklahoma City Thunder had an impressive season where they won 57 games against 25 losses, attesting to their good balance between offense and defense. They scored an average of 120.1 points per match, and their field percentage was better than that of the Rockets at 49.9%. Their 3-point percentage was also higher at 38.9% with good defensive statistics. The Thunder are similar to the Spurs in deep and very effective at executing when it matters most, characteristics that they are looking to improve on in this preseason game.
Alperen Sengun (C) vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG)
Alperen Sengun, a central player of the Rockets’ anatomy, has turned out to be one of the most effective players, averaging 21.1 points and 9.3 rebounds a game in the last season. His capability to defend and secure offensive boards has been crucial as well. Yet, it reveals some room for improvement in the aspect of ball protection as well as decision making under pressure with 2.6 turnovers which he averaged over the last season. His presence in the game could serve as both an advantage in increasing scoring as well as a liability as there is danger for a quick transition against such an offense.
On the contrary, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder proves to be a difficult opponent. With a robust average of 30.1 points per game and endorsements of 2.9 in assists to turnovers rate last season, Gilgeous-Alexander’s quickness and ability to score are worthwhile. On average, he recorded two steals and 0.9 blocks per game, showing that he can be aggressive defensively and challenge Sengun on the offensive end.
The duel between Sengun and Gilgeous-Alexander is likely to be one of the highlights of the match. The inside game of Sengun and the outside game of Gilgeous-Alexander are expected to be key. The two players are both the key players on the teams and are likely to dictate the pace of the match as well as the result.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -4.5 (-110), Total Odds: 223.5
The current betting landscape sees the Thunder favored by 4.5 points, reflecting their stronger performance last season and possibly deeper roster. The total of 223.5 suggests expectations of a high-scoring game, which aligns with both teams’ offensive capabilities observed last season.
Houston Rockets Betting Trends
The Rockets have shown they can put up big numbers, with totals going OVER in 4 of their last 5 games. However, their 18-22 record against the spread in road games last season paints a picture of inconsistency that they must address. Their ability to cover as underdogs in this game will depend significantly on their defensive adjustments and shooting accuracy.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends
The Thunder, on their end, have been solid, with a perfect 5-0 in their last games and an almost equally impressive 4-1 against the spread. Their stronger defensive stats and consistent offensive output make them a safer bet, especially at home, where they’ve managed to keep the scores high enough to challenge the over totals consistently.
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 10/9/24 Betting Picks
With regard to the stats and trends, the probability is very high that the Thunder will have the luxury of ‘dictating the tempo’ and see the positive results to their advantage. The Rockets must aim to raise their game over last season’s average because the Thunder will be a tough side to defend very well and score very efficiently. It wouldn’t be a surprise for the odds’ owners to take Thunder to cover that spread, looking also at the OVER considering the fact both sides are scoring teams.
Considering the fact the Thunder were more stable in the last season than the Rockets were struggling away from home, it might be worth backing the Thunder on the spread. Additional value can be drawn from Proposition bets, especially those with player props on Gilgeous-Alexander’s points and assists. There is strong overall strength in the Thunder as well as the possibility of upsets with the Rockets making this matchup rather fascinating and ideal for the top handicap services.