Thunder at Rockets: Betting odds, point spread for Sunday afternoon
The Houston Rockets (11-29) are one defeat from 20 consecutive losses, which would be among the 10 longest losing streaks in NBA history. To avoid that dubious distinction, they need to defeat Oklahoma City (17-24) during Sunday’s home matinee at Toyota Center.
Houston’s second-most-recent victory came back on Feb. 1 versus those same Thunder, whom the Rockets defeated with ease, 136-106 (recap), in Oklahoma City. At the time, Houston had won six straight games.
Much has changed since, particularly with major injuries to starters and rotation regulars such as Christian Wood, John Wall, and Victor Oladipo. All three are now healthy and back in the lineup, but as Houston learned in Friday’s deflating loss to Detroit, it may take more time to recapture the team chemistry that was shown prior to the skid.
The Thunder have lost three of four going in, including consecutive road games — each by over 20 points — to the Bulls and Hawks. The best news for Houston is that Oklahoma City will be quite short-handed. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (right shoulder soreness), Al Horford (rest), Darius Bazley (left shoulder contusion), and George Hill (right thumb procedure) are all out for Sunday, per Oklahoma City’s injury report.
Related
Thunder at Rockets: Lineups, injury reports and broadcast info for Sunday
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
Point spread: Rockets -4.5 (-110), Thunder +4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets -190/Thunder +155
Over-under: 216.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
Player O/U Scoring Props: Victor Oladipo 22.5 (-105 O, -120 U), John Wall 20.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Christian Wood 19.5 (-105 O, -125 U), Jae’Sean Tate 11.5 (-105 O, -120 U), Danuel House Jr. 11.5 (-105 O, -120 U); Oklahoma City TBD
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Sunday’s probable starters for Oklahoma City are Theo Maledon, Lu Dort, Isaiah Roby, Aleksej Pokuševski, and Moses Brown. Houston will have Wall, Oladipo, Wood, Danuel House Jr., and Jae’Sean Tate.
Advice and prediction
Second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. is likely to be out for the Rockets with right quadriceps soreness, while Eric Gordon (right groin strain) and David Nwaba (right wrist strain) remain sidelined for weeks. Porter’s injury is considered mild and more of the day-to-day variety.
The Rockets also play on Monday, but per head coach Stephen Silas, there won’t be any planned maintenance during Sunday’s game. If Houston’s training staff deems it necessary for a veteran such as Oladipo and/or Wall to sit out a game, it would occur for Monday, not Sunday.
Between Oklahoma City’s decisions to sit out Gilgeous-Alexander, Horford, and Bazley and Houston’s choice to be aggressive with Oladipo and Wall, it feels as if the Rockets are placing a higher priority on the game. As a result, this could be the spot where the streak finally ends.
Prediction: 112-107, Rockets
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.
Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
Related
John Wall returns from knee injury, giving Rockets their desired lineup
List
Victor Oladipo struggles as Pistons extend Rockets' skid to 19
