NBA Spreads: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to host the Houston Rockets in NBA action on Wednesday night. These two teams have already played twice this season, with each team winning at home. The Thunder took home a lopsided 116-96 win at home against the Rockets back on Nov.17, but Houston returned the favor in a 99-98 win at home on Nov.28. The Thunder have won three straight, and six of their last eight games, while the Rockets have won five of their last seven, including two straight heading into tonight’s game. Looking at the NBA spreads for this game, the oddsmakers aren’t giving Houston much of a chance in this one, as the Thunder come in 8-point favorites over the Rockets at home.
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The Thunder feature one of the best 1-2 combos in the league with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant comes into the game averaging a league-best 27.3 points per game, while Westbrook is putting up career numbers, scoring nearly 24 points and dishing out just under 9 assists per game.
Oklahoma City comes in averaging 104.7 points per game and are shooting nearly 52% from the field during their three game winning streak, but it is the defensive effort that should have their opponents concerned. The Thunder are holding opposing teams to just 90 points and 41% shooting in the last three, and just held the Cavaliers to 77 points and 34% shooting on Sunday.
While the Rockets don’t have the offensive weapons that the Thunder bring to the table, Houston is also very strong on the defensive side of the ball. The Rockets are allowing just 95 points over their last four games, but have had trouble keeping teams in check on the road this season, allowing 108.5 points a game when they aren’t playing at the Toyota Center, which is a big reason why Houston is just 3-10 on the road this season. The Rockets goal tonight is to keep the Thunder under 105 points, as Oklahoma City is a perfect 13-0 when they reach that mark this season.
Houston will once again be playing without point guard Aaron Brooks, who has missed the Rockets last 19 games. With Brooks not in the lineup Kyle Lowry will get the difficult task of guarding Westbrook, who had 23 points and 10 assists in the last game between these two teams.
For Houston to win this game, they are going to need big time performances from Kevin Martin and Louis Scola. Martin leads the Rockets, averaging just under 23 points a game this season, and just scored 40 points against the Cavaliers on Saturday. Scola had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets last night against the Kings, and is averaging 19.5 points and seven rebounds against the Thunder this season.
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