NBA Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Houston Rockets have won 11 straight against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Toyota Center, and will look to add to that streak tonight. Houston snapped a five game losing streak with a 108-102 win over the Boston Celtics on Monday. The Thunder come in on a two game winning streak, as they down Memphis 109-100 on Saturday. Oklahoma City is 2-1 against the Thunder this season, with their only loss coming in a 99-98 loss at Houston on Nov. 28. Taking a look at the NBA spreads for tonight’s action, the oddsmakers have the Thunder favored by 3.5-points over the Rockets.
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If you are wondering why the Rockets are dogs at home, it is because Kevin Martin is listed as doubtful and backup center Brad Miller is questionable. Neither played in the Rockets win over the Celtics, so don’t count Houston out in this one.
Aaron Brooks returned from injury and scored 24 points while filling in for Martin in the starting lineup. Kyle Lowry added 17 points and eight assists. With Brooks starting the Rockets lose a lot of size at the two-guard position, but without Brooks in the linup, the Rockets really lose out on a lot of offense. This is the first game Brooks will be available against Houston, and it will be interesting to see how they use him.
Luis Scola is second on the team averaging 19 points a game, but had just 12 points on 5-13 shooting against the Celtics. With Martin out, Scola will have to be more of a factor offensively for the Rockets. Scola is averaging 19 points in the three games against the Thunder.
Kevin Durant scored 40 points in the Thunder’s most recent win over Memphis, and is averaging 29 points in his last five games. Durant averaged 28 points in the two wins at home over the Rockets, but had just 18 points in the loss at Houston.
While Durant struggled in the loss at Houston, Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 10 assists, and is averaging 20 points and nine assists in three games against the Rockets this season.
The Thunder know they have struggled in Houston, and with the Rockets missing two key players in their rotation, look for Oklahoma City to really come out strong and try and bury Houston early.
While the Rockets were able to get a win against the Celtics, I think the loss of Martin is going to be too much for Houston to overcome tonight, and I like the Thunder to not only win this game, but win convincingly.
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