- Oklahoma City Thunder (13-6, 2nd in the West) @ Houston Rockets (8-9, 10th in the West)
- When – Wednesday, 06 December 2023 at 7:00pm CST
- Where – Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- Offensive Rating – HOU: 112.6 (20th) / OKC: 117.9 (5th)
- Defensive Rating – HOU: 110.0 (5th) / OKC: 109.5 (4th)
- Net Rating – HOU: 2.6 (12th) / OKC: 8.4 (2nd)
The Set-Up
The come-up has been something to marvel for these teams that were bottom feeders just a few seasons ago. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder were bottom 5 in the league just a couple of seasons ago. Now, all three of the teams listed are either at the top of their conference or in second place. In addition, teams like Houston and Indiana have become extremely competitive and have the possibility of moving up in the standings as the season progresses. The cycle of change in the NBA is as consistent as the four seasons. Teams at the top now will inevitably be at the bottom in a couple of seasons. And visa versa. So here’s to the upcoming era of these teams for the next couple of seasons.
Season Series: This is the first of four meetings between the Rockets and Thunder this season.
Betting Info
- Line: OKC -2.5
- O/U: 226.5
Injury Report
OKC
- Ousmane Dieng (G-League assignment) – Not Available
HOU
- Jock Londale (illness) – Questionable
- Victor Oladipo (knee) – OUT
- Amen Thompson (G-League assignment) – Not Available
- Cam Whitmore (G-League assignment) – Not Available
Three Big Things
- Giddey – Our point guard is averaging 1 assist per game over the last 3 games. He played a season low 16 minutes in the Thunder’s last game and seems to be struggling with his confidence. I know he has a lot going on in his personal life, but he has to play better. While the team has been successful despite Giddey’s erratic play, a normal Giddey type game could boost this team up even more. Maybe Mark Daigneault will find a line-up that can fit more to Giddey’s strengths when SGA goes to the bench. Maybe something like Giddey, Chet, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins/Kenrich Williams. Shooters and defenders around Giddey.
- Pace – Houston is one of the slower paced teams in the league, while OKC is one of the higher paced teams. Both teams also do a good job of limiting turnovers. That said, if OKC can play their brand of basketball and cause Houston to turn the ball over, it should help facilitate their transition opportunities and shift the game towards their style of play.
- Big man battle – The match-up we’ve all been waiting for. Chet vs. Sengun. On Twitter, Houston and OKC fans can be a bit contentious towards each other, and one of the main sticking points is Alperen Sengun. Houston fans love to point out the fact that OKC gave Sengun up in a draft day deal and that he is going to be one of their core pieces moving forward. OKC loves to point out the fact that Sengen is a traffic cone on defense and the Thunder still own the Rockets’ future for the next few seasons. The reality, as always, is somewhere in the middle. Sengun has been great this season, leading the Rockets in scoring (21 ppg) and rebounding (9.2), while being on a team that is 5th in defensive rating. But the Thunder have a better record, are further along in their rebuild, and still have a ton of assets (to include multiple first and second round picks from Houston). In addition, while channeling my inner Iron Man from the first Avengers movie, “We have a Chet”.