NBA FREE Pick: 501 Houston Rockets @ 502 Oklahoma City Thunder
Rating: 2 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 502 Under 228
Price: -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
Write Up:
The Rockets will use their “jumbo” lineup tonight with Adams and Sengun starting against OKC. Naturally, that means no traditional Point Guard. The strategy is clear: punish OKC on the glass.
However, HOU’s lack of ball handling is problematic against the most aggressive defense in the league that will put huge pressure on the ball handlers Also, let’s not forget that OKC will play their 2 “bigs” in Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein, so this won’t be a huge mismatch for HOU (unlike against most of the others NBA teams).
On the other side, HOU size will help them protect the rim, but they will be slow in reacting against OKC’s drives.
They will put Amen Thompson on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander… Fortunately for them, Jalen Williams is OUT tonight. Williams would have some great mismatches in his favor in this matchup (in the last h2h last season, he scored 33 points w/ 13-21 FG) as the Rockets will be focused vs. Shai. With Williams OUT, this Rockets game plan can work on the defensive end vs. OKC.