The first round of the NBA Playoffs continue today and we will see the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Houston Rockets in Oklahoma City Oklahoma. The game is scheduled for a 9:30 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN. Currently the Odds for the game have the game listed as a Pick while the total sits at 207.5.
Analysis: Oklahoma City will be without star point guard Russell Westbrook for the rest of the first-round Western Conference series with the Houston Rockets and perhaps the entire playoffs with a knee injury that will require surgery. Second-year pro Reggie Jackson will likely move into the starting lineup with Westbrook sidelined. Jackson averaged 7.5 points and 21 minutes in the first two contests. He averaged 5.3 points and 1.7 assists in the regular season. Veteran Derek Fisher is capable of playing some minutes at the point and Brooks indicated Friday that star forward Kevin Durant will be asked to help with the ball-handling. Durant hopes Westbrook can return before the playoffs end. “We’re not trying to rush him or bring him back ahead of schedule,” Durant said. “We want to make sure he’s healthy and his knee is right. That’s our only concern with it right now.”
The Rockets nearly erased a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 2 with a stunning 21-2 run, but the Thunder made big shots down the stretch and held on for the 105-102 win. Although Houston shot poorly on Wednesday (40% FG), it dominated the glass with a 57-40 rebounding edge and outscored Oklahoma City in the paint, 50-30. The Rockets' comeback came without starting PG Jeremy Lin who suffered a muscle contusion in his chest and is questionable for Saturday's Game 3. Houston's offense was outstanding all season with 106.0 PPG (2nd in NBA) on 46.1% FG and 36.6% three-pointers (both 9th-best in league), knocking down 10.6 threes per game (2nd in NBA). But so far this series, the club has 96.5 PPG on 37.9% FG and 25.4% threes (18-for-71). Defensively, this Rockets team really struggles to stop opponents, allowing 102.5 PPG (3rd-worst in league) in the regular season, and 112.5 PPG on 48% FG during the postseason. Whether or not Houston has point guard Jeremy Lin available will be decided prior to Game 3. Lin missed the second half of Game 2 and underwent an MRI exam on Thursday that revealed he has a bruised muscle in his chest. Lin hopes he can play but his optimism was tempered by the fact he was unable to shoot the basketball on Thursday. “I really don’t know because this is something that should heal quickly, but right now I’m not there yet so I don’t know when I will be (able to play).” Lin was 4-of-14 shooting for 11 total points in the first two games.
Oklahoma City was an outstanding road team this season at 26-15 SU (21-18-2 ATS), but Houston was also tremendous at Toyota Center, dropping 108.3 PPG on 47% FG in its home building. Although the Rockets are 9-6 SU (8-7 ATS) with two days' rest this season, the Thunder are a perfect 9-0 SU (5-4 ATS) in this same scenario.
Pick: All the Thunder has been hearing is that the Westbrook injury gives a host of other teams a chance to win the West. Well this is the first game after the injury and I expect the Thunder to rally around their fallen player and take game 3. This is still a deep and talented team, even without Westbrook, and they will look to make a statement in this one. The Rockets defense is still bad and the thunder still have Durant. I look for Oklahoma City to take this one.
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NBA Free Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets Bet
What pro basketball bettors need to know about Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday (4/27/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Marco D'Angelo, with Ken Thomson.