Houston Rockets v Oklahoma City Thunder: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Houston Rockets take on Oklahoma City in the semi-finals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas, with the Thunder heavily fancied to go on and make the final.

Houston Rockets v Oklahoma City Thunder betting picks and predictions

Under 212.5 points - 10/11

For the Rockets to upset OKC and force their way into the NBA Cup final they are going to have to turn their Vegas showdown into a brawl and nobody brawls quite like Houston - just ask Steve Kerr.

The problem is that OKC has the offensive edge that the Warriors lacked on Thursday night and that should be the difference between these two sides.

It's questionable whether Oklahoma can cover the spread, but given the intensity and the defensive clout of both these teams, it's surely worth betting the unders with the line at 212.5.

These are the west's best defenses and they have been showing it all season long.

Houston got involved in a strangling match with Golden State to get to Vegas, emerging 91-90 courtesy of making a mess of Steph Curry in the last few plays.

The Rockets are 10-3 at home where they beat OKC as recently as December 1, a 119-116 win, though they were coming off a three-day rest. The Thunder had been at the Clippers the night before at the end of a gruelling road trip.

Oklahoma, the 19-5 Western Conference leaders, 2.5 games better than Houston who they beat earlier in the first game between the teams on November 8, are conceding just 103.8 points per game, that's second behind Orlando in the entire league.

They held Luca Doncic to just 16 points in their 118-104 triumph over Dallas in the quarter-finals, displaying both their defensive edge, as well as the necessary scoring flair which stands them apart.

Their 12-point scoring differential is two better than Boston, way better than anyone else, and is the reason why OKC should get to the final.

Houston's young side under impressive head coach Ime Udoka will attempt to make it messy and to that end don't go expecting a high scorer.

Alex Caruso over 2.5 rebounds - 20/29

Isaiah Hartenstein is the headline act in OKC's defensive make-up, but Alex Caruso has been a key figure alongside the giant center.

Caruso didn't play in the 119-116 loss to the Rockets two weeks ago, but he has returned to play a key part in three straight wins.

He had four rebounds and eight points in just 17 minutes in a 129-92 hammering of Toronto, scored 14 points in a 119-109 win over New Orleans and had four rebounds, six points and four assists in the win over Dallas.

Caruso is a big cog in a defensive wheel still missing Chet Holmgren and he will have a critical role in trying to perturb Fred VanVleet.

He averages 3.0 rebounds this season and can at least match that in Vegas.

Alperen Sengen under 19.5 points - 20/23

Alperen Sengun is the superstar big man Houston craves, a player who makes the Rockets better whenever he is on the floor.

The Turkish center is surprisingly agile and a cornerstone of Houston's fabulous defensive unit.

He is also scoring well, though his numbers this season are down on last term and he may well not get to 20 points in Vegas.

In two games against the Thunder this season he has scored 11 and 20 points, but OKC defensively are getting better and better and he is averaging 18.8 points, so looks a fair call to go under a 19.5 line.

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Rockets v Thunder money line, spread, over/under

	Money Line	Spread	Over/Under
Rockets	41/20	+6.0 - 10/11	Under 212.5 - 10/11
Thunder	2/5	-6.0 - 10/11	Over 212.5 - 10/11

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.