PREMIUM
Rogers' TNT TOTAL MASSACRE >> 81-62-1 L144 ALL Sports!
(NBA) Houston vs. Oklahoma City,
Total: 221.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 221.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The 49-13 Houston Rockets are a half-game ahead of the 49-14 Warriors for the NBA's best record and will take a 15-game winning streak into their game tonight at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City against the 37-28 Thunder. The team's 123-120 home win over Boston last Saturday tied the Rockets' current streak with two others established in both 1992-93 and 1993-94, seven shy of the franchise mark of 22 established in 2007-08. Meanwhile, the Thunder are in the middle of an eight-team battle for six spots in the West (No. 3 thru No. 10 seeds are separated by just four games) but they sunk to seventh in the conference after falling 108-100 at Portland on Saturday. They've won five of seven overall but all five wins have come against some of the worst teams in the NBA and it's hard to overlook the fact that Oklahoma City has not defeated a winning opponent since Feb. 6!
Houston: Although it was another high-scoring affair Saturday night in the 123-120 win over Boston, Houston players were proud of the defensive work they did on key possessions down the stretch. Eric Gordon (18.7) led with 29 points in 27 minutes, while Harden (31.2-5.2-8.9) collected 26 points and 10 assists. Paul (18.8-5.6-8.1) joins Harden and Gordon to give the NBA's second-highest scoring team (114.0 PPG) a devastating trio of guards. Four other players average in double figures for Houston, including center Capela (14.5 & 11.2) and the veteran Gerald Green (11.5 PPG in the games since being acquired off waivers).
Oklahoma City: The Thunder know all about "Trios," as they added Paul George (22.3 & 5.6) and Carmelo Anthony (16.9 & 6.0) in the off-season to join reigning MVP Russell Westbrook (25.7-9.7-10.2). OKC is coming off a loss to Portland in which Westbrook scored 30 points but he needed 31 shots to get there. Meanwhile, fellow All-Star Paul George missed all seven of his three-point attempts. Carmelo Anthony was given the night off and returns to the court needing only six points to pass Hall of Famer Jerry "the Logo" West (25,192) and move into 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
The pick: The last time the Houston Rockets visited the Oklahoma City Thunder (back on Christmas Day) the Thunder defeated the Rockets 112-107 with Houston's Chris Paul sidelined. It was the third consecutive loss for Houston in a stretch where it lost seven of nine games.In contrast, for OKC it was a fifth consecutive victory in what wound up being a six-game winning streak. However, much has changed since then. The Rockets have won 15 straight games since Jan. 28, while the Thunder have gone 8-8 since Andre Roberson's season-ending injury in late January. Houston will likely relish the role of "the revenger" and with Thunder now minus defensive ace Andre Roberson, Houston's offense will be tough to slow down. However, I expect Westbrook, George and Anthony to rise to the challenge and while I won't trust an OKC team that is on a current 4-11 ATS run, I will make the Over an 8* play.
Houston: Although it was another high-scoring affair Saturday night in the 123-120 win over Boston, Houston players were proud of the defensive work they did on key possessions down the stretch. Eric Gordon (18.7) led with 29 points in 27 minutes, while Harden (31.2-5.2-8.9) collected 26 points and 10 assists. Paul (18.8-5.6-8.1) joins Harden and Gordon to give the NBA's second-highest scoring team (114.0 PPG) a devastating trio of guards. Four other players average in double figures for Houston, including center Capela (14.5 & 11.2) and the veteran Gerald Green (11.5 PPG in the games since being acquired off waivers).
Oklahoma City: The Thunder know all about "Trios," as they added Paul George (22.3 & 5.6) and Carmelo Anthony (16.9 & 6.0) in the off-season to join reigning MVP Russell Westbrook (25.7-9.7-10.2). OKC is coming off a loss to Portland in which Westbrook scored 30 points but he needed 31 shots to get there. Meanwhile, fellow All-Star Paul George missed all seven of his three-point attempts. Carmelo Anthony was given the night off and returns to the court needing only six points to pass Hall of Famer Jerry "the Logo" West (25,192) and move into 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
The pick: The last time the Houston Rockets visited the Oklahoma City Thunder (back on Christmas Day) the Thunder defeated the Rockets 112-107 with Houston's Chris Paul sidelined. It was the third consecutive loss for Houston in a stretch where it lost seven of nine games.In contrast, for OKC it was a fifth consecutive victory in what wound up being a six-game winning streak. However, much has changed since then. The Rockets have won 15 straight games since Jan. 28, while the Thunder have gone 8-8 since Andre Roberson's season-ending injury in late January. Houston will likely relish the role of "the revenger" and with Thunder now minus defensive ace Andre Roberson, Houston's offense will be tough to slow down. However, I expect Westbrook, George and Anthony to rise to the challenge and while I won't trust an OKC team that is on a current 4-11 ATS run, I will make the Over an 8* play.
