Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction, 12/23/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets

Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Location: Toyota Center in Houston, TX

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma

Odds/Point Spread: Oklahoma City (+7.5)

The Houston Rockets (44-28 last season) play the Oklahoma City Thunder (44-28 last year) at Toyota Center on Wednesday. The odds on this game have Houston as 7.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 226.

Oklahoma City will enter this matchup after finishing with a record of 44-28 last year. The Thunder shot 35.5% from downtown (770 of 2,171) and 79.6% from the charity stripe. They averaged 110.4 points per contest (21st in the league) while hitting 46.8% from the field. They gave up possession 13.7 times per game and as a basketball team committed 19.3 fouls per contest. As a basketball team, Oklahoma City snagged 42.9 boards per contest and sat with 1,562 assists last season, which was 23rd in the league in terms of passing the ball. Defensively, the Thunder forced their opponents into 14.2 turnovers every game while drawing 22.8 personal fouls. The Thunder defensively allowed an opponent shooting percentage of 45.5% (2,937 of 6,454) and they conceded 44.8 boards per contest as a team. They were ranked 8th in basketball in giving up assists with 1,656 surrendered last season. They relinquished 34.0% on shots from downtown and they were ranked 7th in basketball in points per game allowed (108.4).

The Oklahoma City Thunder took the court against the Houston Rockets and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 104-102 in their last contest. Oklahoma City wrapped up the game with a 46.1% field goal percentage (35 out of 76) and converted 16 of their 34 3-pointers. At the free throw line, the Thunder buried 16 of 21 attempts for a rate of 76.2%. In reference to hauling in rebounds, they earned 46 with 7 of them being of the offensive variety. They also distributed 24 dimes for the matchup in addition to having 6 steals and 4 blocks. In relation to defense, Oklahoma City allowed 39.8% from the floor on 35 of 88. Houston doled out 18 dimes and 11 steals in the matchup. Moreover, the Rockets pulled down 44 rebounds (11 offensive, 33 defensive) and added 7 blocked shots. Houston shot 89.5% at the free throw line by knocking down 17 of 19 shots. They also made 17 of 49 tries from distance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is someone who played a role in the game. He accounted for 19 points on 6 out of 11 shooting. He played 40:31 and also totaled 3 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander ended up shooting 54.5% from the field and earned 4 assists. One more player that was a contributor in this contest for the Thunder was Chris Paul. He had 11 rebounds and also had 12 assists. He ended up going 45.5% from the field for this game via 5-of-11 (19 points). When the final whistle blew, Paul played 39:52.

Houston had a win-loss mark of 44-28 last season. The Rockets were responsible for committing 21.8 fouls per game and they hit 79.1% from the charity stripe. They dished out assists 21.6 times per game (29th in the league) and they turned it over 14.7 times per contest. Houston totaled 8,482 pts last season (117.8 per game) and they grabbed 44.3 rebounds per contest. When it comes to offense, the Rockets hit 45.1% from the field, which was ranked 22nd in the league. The Rockets on the defensive end were ranked 23rd in basketball in points allowed per game with 114.8. The Houston defense surrendered 34.9% on shots from beyond the arc (880 of 2,522) and opponents made 76.1% of their foul shots. They forced 16.2 turnovers on a nightly basis and allowed teams to shoot 46.2% from the floor (14th in the league). They conceded 25.3 assists and 47.9 boards on a nightly basis, which was ranked 23rd and 30th in those categories on the defensive end.

The last time they took the court, the Houston Rockets took a defeat with a final score of 119-96 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets recorded 22 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive boards totaling 31 in this contest. They also rejected 3 shots while earning 6 steals for the contest. The Lakers had 24 personal fouls for this game which took the Rockets to the charity stripe for 24 shots. They were able to make 17 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 70.8%. In the matter of three-point shots, Houston converted 13 of their 49 tries (26.5%). When the game finished, the Rockets finished the game shooting 33 out of 89 from the field which gave them a rate of 37.1%. The Rockets allowed the Lakers to make 39 of their 74 tries from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 52.7% in the matchup. They finished the game shooting 51.4% from downtown by hitting 19 out of 37 and ended up going 22 of 29 at the free throw line (75.9%). Regarding rebounds, Houston allowed Los Angeles to grab 50 in total (6 on the offensive side).

James Harden was pivotal for the Rockets in this game. He made 12 of 20 for this game for a field goal percentage of 60.0%, which had him finishing with 30 points. Harden grabbed 6 boards in his 42:19 of playing time and had 5 assists for the matchup. An additional guy that was pivotal for Houston was Russell Westbrook. He scored 10 points in his 35:54 played by way of 4 of 13 shooting for the contest. Westbrook ended up shooting 30.8% from the floor in addition to collecting 6 assists and 4 boards.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-7.5)

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