Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, 8/31/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Date: Monday, August 31, 2020

Location: AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -6.5

Total/Over-Under: 225

James Harden and the Houston Rockets travel to AdventHealth Arena on Monday where they'll meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of their series. Oklahoma City opens this contest as 6.5-point dogs. The over/under has been set at 225.

Houston leads the series 3-2 after winning Game 5 by a score of 114-80. James Harden paced the Rockets with 31 pts and 5 assists. Russell Westbrook made his return with 7 points, 7 assists, and 6 boards in 24 minutse. Steven Adams led OKC with 12 pts and 14 rebounds in the loss. 

The Rockets are covering 46.8% of the time, having gone 36-41-0 ATS. Oklahoma City is covering the spread 59.7% of the time, going 46-31-0 against the spread.

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

8/29/2020 a Moute Luc Mbah a Moute SF Knee Game Time Decision

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

8/29/2020 Deonte Burton SG Illness Game Time Decision

Player Spotlight

James Harden comes into this game averaging 34.3 points per contest while playing 36.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Russell Westbrook averages 27.2 points per contest in 35.9 minutes per game. He averages 7.0 assists per game and 7.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 19.0 points per contest while playing 34.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.9 rebounds per contest and has 3.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Chris Paul averages 17.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.0 rebounds per game and has 6.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 91%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 117.8 points per contest, which is 2nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.0 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 22nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 24th in the NBA. They average 44.3 boards per contest and 21.6 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 16th with 14.7 per game. The Rockets allow 114.8 points per contest, which is 23rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 7th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.9 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they allow 25.3 assists per game which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 16.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 21st in the NBA with 110.4 points per contest this season. They are 10th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.99. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 18th in the league. They are 23rd in the NBA in rebounding with 42.9 boards per contest and 28th in assists per game with 21.7. The Thunder are 25th in turnovers per contest with 13.7. The Thunder give up 108.4 points per game, which ranks them 7th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 10th and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 23.0 dimes allowed per game and 13th with 44.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Thunder are 13th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.9, and their defensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 14th. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 7th. As a team they are 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 20th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 22nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 22nd in the NBA. The Thunder are 16th in the league in defensive rating with 108.8, and their offensive rating of 110.8 is ranked 7th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 98.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 18th. As a unit they are 9th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 25th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Oklahoma City +6.5

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