Thunder Gameday: Battle of Lottery Teams in Houston

After they each had prime three picks in the current draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets are nonetheless amidst rebuilds. They’ll face off tonight in Houston as each groups might be on the second night time of a back-to-back.

Oklahoma City hosted the Chicago Bulls on Friday night time whereas the Rockets matched up with the Atlanta Hawks. 

Which workforce can overcome fatigue and pull off the win tonight?

ODDS: 

The Thunder enter the day as 2.5-point favorites in opposition to the Rockets, and the whole over/beneath is 233 factors.

KEYS TO THE GAME: 

Two of the very best gamers on the ground tonight might be Jalen Green and Josh Giddey, who had been each taken early in the lottery of the 2021 NBA Draft. Both are excellent younger guards that affect the sport in alternative ways. 

From there, the matchup of Alperen Sengun and Aleksej Pokusevski might be fascinating to observe. They’re very completely different gamers, however will presumably go back-and-forth in the course of the stream of the sport tonight. Sengun is extra of an influence participant, whereas Pokusevski makes use of his slender body to affect the sport on each ends. 

Regardless, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will probably be the very best participant on the ground tonight. He’s been one of prime gamers in the NBA this season and will simply go for 40 factors on a protection as poor as Houston’s. 

Another storyline to observe in this recreation would be the play of rookie Jabari Smith Jr., who the Thunder handed on in the 2022 NBA Draft to take Chet Holmgren. He’s gotten off to a gradual begin, however Smith is beginning to determine issues out. 

Overall, Oklahoma City has been the higher workforce all yr however something can occur in these sorts of video games. 

RECORDS: 

Oklahoma City Thunder (8-11) vs. Houston Rockets (4-14)

WHEN: 

Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at 7:00 PM CT

LOCATION: 

Toyota Center – Houston, TX

TV/RADIO: 

Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal

FINAL WORD: 

This would be the Thunder’s last contest of the week. After finishing this second night time of a back-to-back, Oklahoma City may have a day without work earlier than heading to New Orleans to tackle the Pelicans Monday.

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