OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Game Preview

The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking on the Houston Rockets in a matchup that should be must watch TV as the top seeds in the West do battle with near fully healthy rosters.

Mar 3, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets get together in Houston for final tango in the regular season as the 2024-25 campaign is set to expire in ten days to begin the NBA Playoffs. The Thunder have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and are in the Driver's seat for the top record in the league, while the Rockets rest at No. 2 in the West hitting the 50 win mark in impressive fashion as Houston takes another step forward.

If Oklahoma City can capture another lopsided win, it would be a record-setting one. Currently. the Thunder are tied with the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers with the most double-digit wins in NBA history (50) and have six more tries at breaking that threshold.

Each side waltzes into this matchup relatively healthy in what should be a fantastic tilt between the top seeds in the West.

Mar 3, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) blocks a shot by Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore (7) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

ODDS:

The Thunder enter the day as 6.5-point favorites against the Houston Rockets, and the total over/under is 231.5 points.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

The Oklahoma City Thunder have to pour in triples at a high clip. Houston's defense allows games to sink into the mud, letting the Rockets crowd the paint due to an off shooting night would make for scoring droughts in this game and keep the H-Town ballers more lethal in this matchup.

Houston doesn't exactly kick the ball all over the floor, but the Rockets are no strangers to sloppy play. If the Thunder with a full compliment of defenders can force Houston into a string of giveaways, OKC will be able to gain separation on the scoreboard.

Similarly, Oklahoma City is going up against a squad with a plethora of No. 2 options but not a bonafide scoring ace. In that case, the Thunder not only are afforded the luxury of being versitile with no one that the likes of Lu Dort must be handcuffed to, but need to make life uncomfortable on the Rockets offensive options and not allow anyone to catch a surprising rhythm. The lone time Houston was able to secure a win over OKC was due to an outlier 38 point night from Fred VanVleet.

The battle of the double-bigs could be a fun chess match to watch if each bench boss elects to deploy it with Steven Adams and Alprene Sengun going toe-to-toe with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The winner of those minutes would have a clear advantage in the contest given the ripple effects of the rest of the rotation.

RECORDS:

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-12) vs. Houston Rockets (50-27)

INJURIES:

Oklahoma City Thunder

Jaylin Williams –– Ankle: OUT

Ousmane Dieng –– Calf: OUT

alex Ducas –– Quad: OUT

Ajay Mitchell –– Toe: OUT

Nikola Topic –– ACL: OUT

Houston Rockets

Dillon Brooks –– Suspension: OUT

Check out  later today for an updated injury report.

WHEN:

Friday, April 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM CT

LOCATION:

Toyota Center - Houston, TX

TV/RADIO:

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

FINAL WORD: 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to extend its winning streak to 12 games. If the OKC Thunder were able to win out they would land at the rare 70 win mark. The Thunder return home after this game for a baseball style series that sees the OKC Thunder hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night to wrap up its home regular season slate.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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