Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/25/2018

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, December 25, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 6 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 21-11. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 6.4 as they average 112.0 points per contest while giving up 105.6 per game. The Rockets have an overall mark of 17-15. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They total 109.2 points per contest and give up 108.5, which is a point differential of 0.7.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 18-13-0 against the spread this season

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 14-17-0 against the over/under this year

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 14-17-1 against the spread this season

The Houston Rockets are 16-15-0 against the over/under this year

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

12/23/18 G Terrance Ferguson Illness left last game, is questionable Tuesday vs Houston
10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/21/18 PG Chris Paul Hamstring is out indefinitely
12/11/18 SF James Ennis III Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/15/18 SF Carmelo Anthony Possible Trade is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Paul George comes into this game averaging 26.2 points per contest while playing 35.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Dennis Schroder averages 16.2 points per contest in 29.1 minutes per game. He averages 4.5 assists per game and 3.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

James Harden scores 32.0 points per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.7 rebounds per contest and has 8.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Eric Gordon averages 15.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.3 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 112.0 points per contest, which is 11th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 6.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 15th. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They average 48.6 boards per contest and 22.6 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 9th with 14.7 per game. The Thunder allow 105.6 points per contest, which is 5th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 5th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.1 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they allow 24.1 assists per game which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 17.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 19th in the NBA with 109.2 points per contest this season. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 0.69. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 27th in the NBA in rebounding with 41.3 boards per contest and 27th in assists per game with 21.4. The Rockets are 20th in turnovers per contest with 13.6. The Rockets give up 108.5 points per game, which ranks them 11th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 27th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 21.8 dimes allowed per game and 4th with 42.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Rockets are 14th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.4, and their defensive rating of 103.1 is ranked 2nd. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 102.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 22nd. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league. Oklahoma City is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 17th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 7th in the league. The Rockets are 5th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.5, and their defensive rating of 112.8 is ranked 26th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 7th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league.

Who will win tonight's Thunder/Rockets NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Oklahoma City +6

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