Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets basketball gambling preview
Time: 8:05 PM
Venue: Toyota Center
Sportsbook NBA online betting odds:
Thunder +8 (-110) 223 (-110) +305
Rockets -8 (-110) 223 (-110) -365
Houston volley’d and thunder’d; storm’d at with shot and shell, boldly they rode and well and blew out Oklahoma City 118-87 on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in their first round playoff series. The Rockets were ahead by 20 with seven minutes left when head coach Mike D’Antoni sent James Harden back in. Sure, why not? Overkill is not just a heavy rock band. Soon the lead extended to 30 points with 4:30 minutes remaining. This was D’Antoni’s first postseason win since 2008. On the other hand, the Thunder “were just absolutely garbage.” At least that’s what Oklahoma’s own Steven Adams said.
Oklahoma
Key players: Russell Westbrook once again led the Thunder with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists – which are rather poor numbers by his own regular season standards. Not even a triple-double? That dog won’t hunt, monsignor. Additionally, he shot 26% from the field and had nine TOs. Then again, he has to carry four other guys up and down the court, of whom only Andre Roberson broke the double digit mark.
Recent form: The Thunder have won five of their last seven road games but have lost their last five visits to Houston.
NBA online betting odds trends: similarly, OKC has covered the spread in four of the last six games on the road, but only once in the last seven games at the Toyota Center. The basketball gambling total has gone under in the Thunder’s last five games and in six of their last seven road games.
Houston
Key players: Harden exploded with 37 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists but the real star was his partner in crime. No, not his beard. Patrick Beverly had the Alcidian task of guarding El Super Westbeasto and still found time to score a postseason-high 21 points and grab 10 rebounds. Even OKC head coach Billy Donovan had nothing but praise for Beverly. “He played a very, very good game,” Donovan said. “He impacted the game way, way more with his energy, his effort, his hustle, his loose balls, his offensive rebounding, keeping balls alive.” Wait, his loose balls? Huh. Who would’ve thought Beverly liked going commando?
Recent form: The Rockets have won five of their last seven games overall, eight of their last 10 home games, and five of their last six against the Thunder.
NBA online betting odds trends: Houston is 1-8-1 against the spread in the last 10 games and 1-4 ATS in the last five at home, but when it comes to Oklahoma City they have covered in six of their last seven meetings and ditto in their last seven times hosting the Thunder. The basketball gambling total has gone under in four of Houston’s last five games at home and over in five of the Rockets’ last seven games playing the Thunder at home.