Free NBA Pick: Thunder vs. Rockets NBA Odds
Looking for Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Thunder taking on the Rockets on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, at the Toyota Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Thunder Rockets matchup.
2020 NBA Handicapping
(0-0) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets (0-0)
Date: Wednesday, December 23
Time: 8:00PM EST
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
NBA Moneyline Odds: Thunder +230 | Rockets -250
NBA Betting Odds: Thunder -7.0 | Rockets +7.0
NBA Betting Total: 226
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In the first games for both teams of the 2020-21 NBA season the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets begin the season facing each other.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Thunder and Rockets pushed their series to seven games and the final shot of the game to decide a winner.
However, the clubs enter this season with vastly changed rosters and the potential for another big move still to come.
Oklahoma City Thunder
In a dozen seasons, the Oklahoma City Thunder has been to the postseason for all but two – the inaugural year and the season when Kevin Durant missed copious games due to injury — and even then they finished ninth.
That dynamic will change this year as GM Sam Presti jettisoned all the core talents this offseason and bolstered his draft closet with more picks.
Chris Paul and Abdel Nader were traded to the Suns, Dennis Schroder to the Lakers, Danilo Gallinari to the Hawks, and fan-favorite Steven Adams to the Pelicans.
And, Presti flipped players who came back in the initial trades to garner more draft picks and young assets. Over the next seven seasons, the Thunder could conceivably have 18 first-round picks (depending on protections).
Billy Donovan and the organization mutually parted ways with assistant Mark Daigneault taking over the lead chair.
With a strong NCAA class this year and next, the goal for the Thunder is to be competitive but not capture victories as the franchise attempts to find superstars in the draft.
Houston Rockets
Sweeping changes were made to the Rockets starting with the front office. Coach Mike D’Antoni elected to exit as did GM Daryl Morey. D’Antoni joined the Nets while Morey assumed the top front-office position with the 76ers.
Stephen Silas and Raphael Stone are their replacements. Stone has been busy reuniting former Kentucky tandem John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins as well as landing free agent Christian Wood.
The elephant in the room is Houston’s disgruntled superstar – James Harden.
The bearded man demanded a trade to Brooklyn and when the franchise didn’t quickly accommodate his request he pulled a bit of a public tantrum partying in Vegas and tweeting out pictures of himself.
He’s back with the team now, but still desirous of leaving and has expanded his potential destinations list.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Under is 11-5-1 in OKC last 17 vs. NBA Southwest
- Under is 10-1 in HOU last 11 home games.
- Under is 7-1 in HOU last 8 overall
- The underdog is 23-7 ATS in the last 30 meetings.
- Under is 13-6 in the last 19 meetings.
Free Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets NBA Prediction:
The Thunder will give all their youngsters plenty of room to show off their talent as they look to lose as many games as possible. Although Presti won’t commit to saying “tank” or “rebuild” that’s precisely what OKC is doing.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Nets
On the other side of the hardwood the Rockets have big decisions to make regarding Harden. Even if they elect to trade him should they covet young assets (Ben Simmons) or copy the Thunder and try to grab as many draft picks as possible?
Those are longer term decisions but on this night the Rockets should net the easy victory.
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