HOU at OKC
Time: 6 PM CST
TV: NBA TV
Spread: HOU -5.5
M/L: HOU -210; OKC +175
Total: 192
Betting odds c/o Bovada
Life is tough for the Oklahoma City Thunder without its two superstars, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. The Thunder are just 3-7 on the season and just lost by seven in OT to the Detroit Pistons Friday Nov. 14. Playing host to the Houston Rockets, the Thunder find themselves 5.5 point underdogs in NBA odds as of Noon ET, Sat.
The biggest beneficiary of Westbrook and Durant’s absence has been Reggie Jackson. Jackson is averaging 22.4 points and 8.1 assists per game. Serge Ibaka has also considerably increased his production with 16.4 points and 7.6 boards per game.
Jackson is showcasing a strong ability to lead a team, which may render him more than a backup by the time Westbrook returns. In other words, the Thunder may have a nice trade chip.
Jeremy Lamb is showing the touch he had at UConn. He’s averaging 16 points per game for the Thunder, while shooting 46.7 percent from three. Lamb is a marksman; it’s likely he finishes over 40 percent for the season. Still, without Westbrook and Durant, it’s going to be tough. Anthony Morrow adds more shooting, and OKC can still be a formidable opponent.
But the Rockets are 8-1 on the season and on fire. The Rockets managed a one-point come from behind victory against the 76ers on Friday night Nov 14. Dwight Howard had 21 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks, while Trevor Ariza added 13 points. James Harden exploded for 35 points.
The Rockets had trailed by as many as 13 points and were down going into the fourth quarter. Philly could have won it on a Michael Carter-Williams jumpshot at the buzzer, but Houston held on.
The Rockets have played five of nine thus far on the road and are undefeated in those games. Harden is averaging 26.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game this year, while coming up with 1.78 steals and a block per game on defense. The defense has caught many by surprise, as apparently Harden let the criticism inspire positive change.
All in all, he may end up as the best 2-guard in the league after all, as Howard said he and Harden are the best at their positions this summer.
Howard has backed up his mouth, as well, averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.75 blocks per game. While many thought the Rockets would miss Chandler Parsons (who signed with Dallas as a restricted free agent), Trevor Ariza has been lights out, averaging 14.9 points per game and shooting 44.1 percent from three-point range. The Rockets averaging 12.3 three-point makes per game, and shoot 38 percent from behind the arc as a team.
