The top two teams in the Western Conference meet Friday night at the Toyota Center as the Houston Rockets host the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM ET. Oklahoma City leads the conference at 64-12, while Houston is second at 50-27.
This is the fifth meeting between these teams this season. Oklahoma City has won three of the first four, including a 137-128 win on March 3. Both teams have already clinched playoff spots, but this game still matters for seeding and potential home-court advantage in the West.
Rockets Preview – Playoff-Bound and Peaking Late
Houston locked up its first playoff spot in five years with a blowout win over Utah. The Rockets have won 13 of their last 15 games and are holding off the Lakers and Nuggets for the No. 2 seed. They still have games left against Golden State, the Clippers, and the Lakers to end the regular season.
Alperen Sengun is averaging over 21 points and 9 rebounds per game. He nearly had a triple-double in the last win with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jalen Green scored 22 and continues to be a key scoring option. Dillon Brooks had 21 on 9-of-16 shooting and has been more consistent lately.
The Rockets also get major contributions from their young core. Amen Thompson had 9 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in the last game. Tari Eason added 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Houston shoots 47.9% from the field and holds opponents to just 109 points per game, ranking them in the top five in defense.
Thunder Preview – Closing in on 70 Wins
Oklahoma City is playing with confidence and on pace for a historic season. The Thunder have won 18 of 19 games and are chasing a 70-win season. Only the 2015-16 Warriors and 1995-96 Bulls have reached that mark before.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 33 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. He had 33 in the win over Detroit and has scored 30+ in five of his last six games. Rookie big man Chet Holmgren had 22 points, 11 boards, and 6 blocks. He’s been a strong rim protector all year and plays well in the pick-and-roll.
Lu Dort and Cason Wallace bring defense on the perimeter. Wallace had 13 points, 4 assists, and 5 boards in the last game. Oklahoma City also leads the league in steals at 10.4 per game and ranks second in assist-to-turnover ratio. They shoot 37.3% from three and over 82% at the line.
Betting Prediction
Oklahoma City is favored by 6.5 points, with the total set at 231.5. The Thunder have dominated this matchup all year and are playing better basketball down the stretch. Even without Jalen Williams, they have more offensive weapons and better overall numbers.
Houston is dangerous at home and playing with confidence, but their defense will be tested against the Thunder’s ball movement and pace. The Rockets are 28-11 at home, but Oklahoma City is 29-7 on the road and has covered the spread in 59 of their last 91 games. Final score prediction: Oklahoma City 121, Houston 112. Thunder win and cover the spread.
Pick: Thunder -6.5
Take the Thunder to beat the Rockets on Friday, and also cover the spread in this Western Conference affair.
