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The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-3) and Houston Rockets (1-1) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Thunder are 4.5-point favorites on the spread over the Rockets, with the over/under set at 223.5 total points. The Thunder are -172 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Rockets are listed as +140 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Thunder vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, October 15.
Thunder vs Rockets Prediction
- Thunder vs Rockets pick: Under 223.5 (-118o/-106u, FanDuel)
My Thunder vs Rockets best bet is for the game to go under the total, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Thunder vs Rockets Odds
- Thunder vs Rockets spread: Thunder -4.5 (-108), Rockets +4.5 (-111)
- Thunder vs Rockets over/under: 223.5 (-118o / -106u)
- Thunder vs Rockets moneyline: Thunder -172, Rockets +140
Thunder vs Rockets NBA Preview
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
Oklahoma City has been ice cold this preseason, and just got its first win (albeit, not during regulation) 114-112 against the Pacers on Tuesday. This is only preseason play, and OKC will certainly reside near the top of the Western Conference this season, barring injury. Still, the Thunder will need to show some sparks on offense to generate confidence entering the season next week.
In the squad's only preseason win thus far, Jared McCain paced the team with 20 points. Reigning 2x NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tacked on 15 points and six assists. Fourth-year big man Chet Holmgren did not play against Indiana, and is considered day-to-day. The Thunder have been solid on defense, allowing more than 116 points only once in four games.
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
The Rockets will play their last of three preseason games tonight after traveling to Macao, China, for a two-game exhibition series against the Dallas Mavericks. Houston won the first game 135-117 before letting Dallas even the series 132-115 on Sunday. Although the Rockets were largely at full strength for the first game, Ime Udoka sat Steven Adams, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Kevin Durant on Sunday.
In that game, Marcus Smart led the team with 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Reed Sheppard added 17 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson combined for 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. This team has a nose for the basket, but those efforts weren't enough to keep the game competitive without Durant and Adams present. Should those two return to the lineup against the Thunder, that potential skyrockets.
Thunder vs Rockets Pick, Betting Analysis
Evan Abrams' Home Dog Total system isolates an edge by highlighting NBA preseason games with a home underdog. These matchups create unusual scoring expectations, especially when the market sets the closing total at 215.5 or higher.
This system plays the under in those elevated total environments, looking for the market to overestimate offensive efficiency in games where the home team is considered inferior. With unstable rotations, limited minutes for key players and less offensive continuity, preseason basketball can struggle to sustain the scoring pace required to clear an aggressive total.
The Rockets are 4.5-point dogs at home tonight, and may struggle offensively if KD and Adams continue to rest. SGA and company have held most of their opponents to modest scoring outputs, so expect a defensive game tonight.
Pick: Under 223.5 (-118o/-106u, FanDuel)
Thunder vs Rockets Betting Trends
