Rockets at Thunder, Feb. 27: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet
When Houston defeated Oklahoma City in December, emerging big man Chet Holmgren had just 4 points and 5 rebounds while making only 2-of-9 shots (22.2%). But in the second game of the 2023-24 season series (won Sunday by the Thunder), Holmgren was elite with 29 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks, shooting 11-of-16 from the field (68.8%) and 5-of-8 on 3-pointers (62.5%).
Now, as an immediate rematch looms Tuesday in Oklahoma City, will Alperen Sengun and Ime Udoka have a counter? It won’t be easy on the road, where the young Rockets (25-32) are just 5-22 this season.
If you’d like last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We have the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as all the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet.
Tuesday’s game starts at 9 p.m. Central and can be seen on TNT (a rare national broadcast for Houston) and NBA League Pass.
Here’s a look at Tuesday’s lines:
- Point spread: Thunder -9.5
- Money line: Thunder -500 / Rockets +375
- Over/Under: 235.5
Thunder at Rockets injury report:
Houston’s injury report lists Steven Adams (right knee PCL surgery) and Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) as out, while Nate Hinton and Jermaine Samuels Jr. are in the G League.
With Oklahoma City’s entire roster healthy, Keyontae Johnson, Ousmane Dieng, and Adam Flagler are with the G League affiliate.
Advice and prediction
Led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks second in the NBA in per-game scoring, Oklahoma City (40-17) continues to hover at or near the top of the Western Conference standings. They have won five straight games and eight of their last 10, overall.
And when Gilgeous-Alexander’s production is paired with dynamic play by Holmgren, the Thunder simply have too much firepower for a young team like the Rockets. In this case, with two straight games between the teams, Oklahoma City is likely more dialed in (relative to an average regular-season game) with a Rockets-specific game plan.
Even so, the Rockets are likely to compete hard in Oklahoma City, given the rare national television slot. We’ll take the Thunder to win, but Houston could be a threat for a backdoor cover late.
Prediction: Thunder 122, Rockets 114
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
