NBA Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-25-2018, 15:00 EDT

Spread: Houston Rockets -1.5

Total: +221.5

In this Christmas all-Western showdown, two teams sitting within the top-8 of the conference are clashing, when the Oklahoma City Thunder, looking to bounce back after their latest defeat, are visiting the Houston Rockets, who want to turn their latest victory into another streak and stay within the top-8.

Thunder are 21-11 so far in the league and are tied with Golden State in the 2^nd place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they saw a 4-game victory streak and road a home defeat by Minnesota, 112-114. Rockets are 17-15 so far in the league and are tied with San Antonio in the eighth place of the Western Conference. They are 6-1 in their last 7 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against San Antonio at home, 108-101.

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Oklahoma City are led in scoring by by Paul George with 26.2 ppg. He also adds 8.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, while Russell Westbrook follows with 20.2 ppg and leads the team both in rebounding with 10.8 and in assists with 10.3 per game. Dennis Schroder adds 16.2 ppg, 3.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Houston are led in scoring by James Harden with 32 ppg. He also adds 5.7 rebounds and leads the team in assists made with 8.4 per game, while Clint Capela follows with 17.1 ppg and leading the team in rebounding with 12.1 per game. Chris Paul adds 15.6 ppg, 4 rebounds and 8 assists per game but he is out with an injury.

In their latest matchup previously this season Oklahoma were victorious at home by 18 points. Houston are 10-5 at home so far, while Oklahoma are 9-7 on the road. Oklahoma have both a better offense with 112 ppg to Houston’s 109.2 and a better defense, allowing 105.6 ppg to Houston’s 108.5. They also have a better accuracy from the field, shooting with 45.7% to Houston’s 44.7%, while Houston have a better accuracy from behind the arc, shooting with 34.5% to Oklahoma’s 32.7%. Oklahoma dish more assists (22.6 to 21.4) and grab more rebounds per game (48.6 to 41.3), while Houston commit fewer turnovers per game (13.6 to 14.7). Oklahoma have been better throughout the season and expect them to get away with the road win one way or another today.  

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder +1.5 (-109)

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