Free NBA Pick: Rockets vs. Thunder NBA Odds
Looking for Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Rockets taking on the Thunder on Monday, February 1st at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Rockets Thunder matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(9-9) Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-10)
Date: Monday, February 1st
Time: 8:00PM EST
Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
NBA Moneyline Odds: Rockets -185 | Thunder +170
NBA Betting Odds: Rockets -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 224.5
While these teams played to seven games in the first round of the playoffs and took the match right to the final shot there won’t be much angst carried over to Monday. That’s because both teams barely resemble the same squads who played in Orlando.
The Thunder brought back only six players with third-year wing Hamidou Diallo now the longest-serving member of the franchise.
The two former members of the Thunder are no longer on the Rockets as Russell Westbrook was traded (Wizards) after one season and James Harden finally got his wish moving to Brooklyn.
Houston Rockets
With the Jazz win streak ending in Denver, the Grizzlies hold the longest active streak with six wins in a row followed by the Rockets who have five in a row.
Houston was one of the teams hit hard by COVID-19 and also had to navigate the drama of James Harden who was acting like a petulant child.
After the trade. several Rockets spoke openly about feeling disrespected and it’s not often players go public with this sort of angst toward their peers unless the situation was untenable.
The streak features wins versus the Pistons, Mavericks, Wizards, Blazers, and Pelicans. While these teams might not represent the upper echelon it’s important to note until the last two games at least one of John Wall, Christian Wood, or Victor Oladipo was inactive.
In the recent win over the Pelicans that trio combined for 62 points, 17 rebounds, and 16 assists.
David Nwaba (ankle) won’t play Monday. Dante Exum (calf strain) is out until late March.
Oklahoma City Thunder
For a team expected to be tanking the Thunder don’t fit the typical prototype. Sure there are double-figure losses like their most recent 147-125 thrashing at the hands of the Nets.
However, this is also a young team who have won in clutch time, erased double-digit leads and for the most part feast on the road. In fact, seven of their eight wins occurred away from Chesapeake.
Although the most recent five-game trip began with three consecutive losses OKC rallied to beat the Blazers and Suns. The reality is the Thunder are content to lose as long as the young core gains experience and exhibits growth.
So even in those ousts the team can focus on positives. For example, Theo Maledon started in place of the injured George Hill the past three games.
He improved in each outing but punctuated the point via 24 points (perfect 6 of 6 from deep) three rebounds, three assists, and a steal with only a single turnover.
All five starters plus Hamidou Diallo reached double-figure scores against the Nets.
George Hill missed the last two games with a sore thumb is out Friday. Josh Hall (illness), Ty Jerome (ankle), and Trevor Ariza (personal) are all out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Under is 6-2-1 in HOU last 9 games as a favorite.
- Over is 10-3 in OKC last 13 home games.
- Under is 13-6 in the last 19 meetings
Free Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Prediction:
The James Harden-less era of the Rockets has a very different identity. The primary difference is the defense. In week one Houston ranked 27th defensively since the trade they own the top-rated defense in the NBA.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Rockets ATS
It sure feels like a driving motivation of this Rockets team is to prove to fans (and maybe Harden) they ARE a better team than he gave them credit for.
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