An NBA series & game day preview between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. Houston leads series 1-0.
Series Start: August 18, 2020
Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Kissimmee, FL
TV: Tuesday – 6:00 PM EST | TNT – Rockets WON 123-108
Thursday – 3:30 PM EST | ESPN
Saturday – 6:00 PM EST | ESPN
August 24th – 4:00 PM EST | TNT
8/26 (If Necessary) – TBD
8/28 (If Necessary) – TBD
8/30 (If Necessary) – TBD
Series Odds: HOU -155
Game Two Odds: HOU -2 O/U 226.5
Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 44-28
Houston Rockets
Record: 44-28
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Series/Game Two Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. While the Thunder took the swept the season series 3-0, Houston won game one of this playoff match-up. Even though Houston was without star guard, Russell Westbrook, James Harden picked up the slack and led the Rockets to a dominant game one victory. There is currently no timetable for Westbrook’s return.
Thunder
With Russell Westbrook out, OKC should be focusing solely on stopping James Harden from scoring. That should be the game-plan. While the Thunder could not do that in game one, I see them applying more pressure on the former MVP. Also, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to have to produce more if the Thunder want to even the series. Shai only scored 9 points in game one and that won’t work if the Thunder want to win this series. Chris Paul also wants to beat his former team after they traded him in the offseason so expect big games from Shai and Paul.
Rockets
The only way the Rockets win this series is if James Harden continues to put up James Harden numbers. He scored 37 points in the first game of this series while averaging 28.7 points a game versus the Thunder in the regular season. Harden knows he has added pressure on him with Russell Westbrook out and the fact that there is this narrative that he can’t win the “big” one. Chris Paul and the Thunder know this so I believe they slow him down in game two which means more assists for Harden. More assists mean more points for teammates like Robert Covington and Eric Gordon.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Facts & Fantasy Basketball Predictions
Thunder vs. Rockets Facts
- The TOTAL went OVER in the first game of this series.
- Houston are 1-0 ATS in this series.
- Oklahoma City was 3-0 ATS against Houston during the 2019-2020 regular season.
StatementGames Fantasy Basketball Picks
- James Harden UNDER 37.5 PTS
- James Harden Will NOT HAVE A Triple Double
- Oklahoma City Thunder OVER 10.5 Three Pt FGS
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