The NBA Cup semifinals are on, and the Western part of the bracket features a clash between the Houston Rockets and the OKC Thunder. These two units hold the top two spots in the West and are truly the best teams in the conference.
Houston Rockets News
The Houston Rockets narrowly edged the Golden State Warriors 91-90, demonstrating their ability to thrive in low-scoring matchups. While their offense wasn’t particularly flashy, their defense was reliable and consistent, and that’s Ime Udoka’s handwriting all over the place. Improving the defense was the first thing he did after taking over the Cs, and look where that brought them.
Houston ranks first in the NBA with an average of 13.9 offensive rebounds per game, which directly translates to a significant number of second-chance points—an essential factor in their success. That’s Udoka’s aggressive approach, too.
OKC Thunder News
OKC’s ability to outscore opponents consistently has made them a dominant force in the West. Yes SGA is the best scorer, but when you look at the entire team, you realize that any player can drop 25 buckets on you. In every game, there’s a different guy who jumps in to deliver a high-scoring performance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, averaging 30.2 points per game, ranks fourth in the NBA’s top scorers. Beyond scoring, he’s also dishing out 6.3 assists, showcasing his improved playmaking ability. More importantly, his defensive game has taken a major leap, making him a legitimate contender for the NBA MVP this season.
Houston Rockets vs. OKC Thunder Head-to-Head
OKC won 126-107 at the Paycom Center, while Houston responded with a 119-116 victory on their home floor.
Houston Rockets vs. OKC Thunder Betting Prediction
The Rockets have been on a strong upward trajectory, and with their superior frontcourt play, they are well-positioned to win this matchup. Expect Houston to come out on top, advancing to the NBA Cup finals in what could be a closely contested game.
Betting Tip: Rockets +5.5 win
Bookmaker: Bets.io
Odds: 1.91
Bets.io
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