NBA Predictions: Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Tuesday, 3/11/14, 8:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -3.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -3.5
Opening Total: 217
Current Total: 217
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 26-6 SU at home this season

Houston Rockets have won five games in a row, including a 118-113 overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers as 6.5-point home favorites Sunday, while going OVER the betting total of 214. The Rockets are 18-12 SU on the road this season, including a 12-9 mark versus Western Conference opponents, which is important to consider when making your NBA predictions. Offensively, the team is led by the play of shooting guard James Harden, who is averaging 24.6 points per game. Houston is 5-2 ATS in its last seven road games.

The Rockets have dropped their first two meetings with the Thunder during the 2013-14 campaign, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. Houston is a league-best 23-6 SU since the calendar rolled into 2014, while the franchise has also won its last 22 games when scoring at least 100 points. It’s important to point out that the team has outscored its opponents by a combined 204 points in the first quarter heading into its last game versus Portland.

Oklahoma City dropped both games of its recent road trip against the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, as it allowed a combined 242 points in those contests. The Thunder are 26-6 SU at Chesapeake Energy Arena, including a 16-2 mark versus conference rivals. Point guard Russell Westbrook is starting to put things together on the offensive end, as he’s averaging 23.3 points on 51.6 percent shooting over his last six games. Oklahoma City is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 games versus Southwest Division opponents.

The Thunder have compiled a dominating 42-13 SU record in bounce-back games since the start of the 2011-12 campaign. Oklahoma City receives plenty of praise on the offensive end, but it must be mentioned that the franchise is fourth in the league in holding opponents to 43.5 percent shooting from the floor. The club has also gone 38-7 SU this year when winning the battle on the glass.