NBA Basketball
2018-12-25 - Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Tuesday 25th December 2018 - Tip Off 3pm
British Time: 8pm
Preview
It has not been the best time to oppose the Houston Rockets (17-15) who have gotten the better of me a couple of times over the last couple of weeks. In both games where they covered they have done so by the very minimum of margins and I am going to look to be third time lucky as I want to get behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-11) who are having a confident season.
This is not the biggest spread which makes it dangerous because it effectively means backing the underdog to win here against a Houston team who have won seven of their last eight games. However the Rockets continue to be without Chris Paul and rallying against the San Antonio Spurs on a back to back is a different story than beating the Thunder who have one of the best records in the Western Conference.
It is a little hard to understand how the Houston Rockets have been winning games as they have not been efficient shooting the ball and Defensively can find it very hard to make stops. The high three point shooting is obviously one reason they are productive and they could have a chance to get going from that distance against the Thunder who have not been Defending that mark as well as they would have liked in recent games.
That has to be the main point of attack for Houston who are without Paul and James Ennis although they did snap a run of five losses without Chris Paul. And while they have been hitting the three pointers well, Houston have been Defending against the three ball very well which has allowed them to make up for the poor look of their overall numbers.
Oklahoma City do have Russell Westbrook and the in-form Paul George who can turn this game in their favour and both players will be ready to underline how much the Thunder have improved. They are surrounded by players who can help dominate the boards and it may be those second chance opportunities that gives the Thunder a chance to win this game.
The Rockets will need to find the big plays at the big moments to win this one as far as I am concerned and they are only 2-5 against the spread when either favoured by less than 2 points or given less than 2 points as the underdog.
You have to respect Houston for their recent home form which has seen them cashing in at the window, even by narrow margins, but they are 1-4 against the spread in their last five against Oklahoma City. Add in the fact the road team is 6-2 against the spread in the last eight and the underdog is also 6-2 against the spread and I think the Thunder may just have the edge and can win a big game on the road.
Prediction
Take the points with the road underdog.
The Pick :
Houston Rockets 103-106 Oklahoma City Thunder
