The first round of the NBA Playoffs continue today and we will see the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Houston Rockets in Houston, Texas. The game is scheduled for a 9:35 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN. Currently the Odds for the game have Houston favored by 1 points while the total sits at 206.5.
Analysis: Oklahoma City crushed Houston by 29 points in Game 1, 120-91, but since then, the scores have been 105-102, 104-101, 105-103 and 107-100 on Wednesday. Oklahoma City appeared headed to a four-game sweep of the Rockets. Westbrook was lost for the season with a knee injury in Game 2 and the Rockets staved off elimination with an impressive Game 4 victory. Another Houston win in Oklahoma City on Wednesday has created a lot of anxious moments for the Thunder. “We have good players that have been through this before,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said Thursday. “We know we have to play better. But we also know we’re up 3-2.” Durant is averaging 38.3 points in three games since Westbrook was injured and Oklahoma City needs someone else to step up and help him carry the load. Durant tallied 36 points in Game 5 but was scoreless in the final quarter, a stanza in which Westbrook typically does a lot of the scoring. Durant is averaging 33.6 points but was just 1-for-8 from 3-point range in the Game 5 loss. “They don’t really care about anybody else on the team,” Durant said of Houston’s defensive strategy. “So when I have the ball, there’s like four guys guarding me sometimes and I’ve just got to make the pass. We didn’t make shots (in Game 5) but I trust that we’re going to make those wide-open ones.”
The Rockets nearly erased deficits of 15+ points when losing Games 2 and 3, and then almost squandered a 13-point lead with under 14 minutes remaining in Game 4 before holding on for their first win of the series. In Game 5, Houston wasn't fazed by the Thunder's strategy to foul C Omer Asik every time down the court, and never let its lead slip below six points in the fourth quarter. Asik has averaged 19 points and 12.5 rebounds in the back-to-back victories. Rockets PG Jeremy Lin (chest) has not been on the court for either of the past two wins, and he is doubtful to return on Friday as well. Houston standout James Harden scored 31 points and was 7-of-9 from 3-point range in Game 5 despite having a strep throat. The former Oklahoma City sixth man is averaging 26.4 points in the series. Forward Carlos Delfino and point guard Jeremy Lin are both questionable for Game 6. Delfino had his ailing left foot examined Thursday and his status will be firmed up in the hours before game time. “Carlos has got a lot of stuff going on in his foot,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. “He’s got bone spurs, he’s got a little fracture of a bone spur.” Houston has made 26 3-pointers in the last two games.
Oklahoma City has been a tremendous road team this season at 27-16 SU (22-19-2 ATS, 54%), but Houston has been outstanding at Toyota Center, going 30-13 SU and 25-18 ATS (58%), scoring 108.1 PPG in its home building. Although the Thunder are a hefty 40-16 SU (33-22-1 ATS, 60%) with one day of rest this season, the Rockets are nearly as good, posting records of 28-15 SU and 24-18-1 ATS (57%) in this same scenario.
Pick: I like the over in this one. Both teams are in desperation mode and I expect both offenses to shine because of that. The Rockets have been able to score on the thunder in this series, while they have no defense and that should allow Oklahoma City to put up plenty of their own. Both teams will look to run here, which should get us at least 210 points scored.
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