Soon after the end of the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks game, the second semifinal of the 2024 NBA will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. The game in question is Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets, which bookmakers think Okla will win. These guys currently have the moneyline odds of -213.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets 2024 NBA Cup Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -200 |
| Houston Rockets | +160 |
| Spread | Odds |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder -5 | -110 |
| Houston Rockets +5 | -110 |
| Points | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 215.5 | -110 |
| Under 215.5 | -110 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: TNT
Reasons Why Oklahoma City Thunder Favored to Win on Saturday
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their spot in the NBA Cup semifinals with a big win over the Dallas Mavericks. The final score was 118-104, even though the spread was set to just 3.5 points before the game.
After taking care of business at the Paycom Center, the Thunder will face the Houston Rockets at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Pundits often compare these two teams as they’ve both relatively recently started the roster rebuilding process.
The main difference is that some of the Thunder’s players have already grown into real superstars, the best example being Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 39 points on Tuesday night.
The last time the Thunder faced the Rockets – on December 1 – OKC lost 119:116 in Texas. But here’s the kicker: the Thunder haven’t dropped a game since.
They won their last four games, beating the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans in the regular season of the 2024 NBA before destroying the Dallas Mavericks in the mid-season tournament.
Can the Rockets Stun the Thunder on December 14?
On Wednesday, the Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors for the first time in almost five years. Before the 2024 NBA Cup game, the last time they beat the Warriors was back in February 2020. That’s when James Harden and Russell Westbrook were running the show in Houston.
Fast-forward to 2024, and Houston’s key men are Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet, and Alperen Sengun. The last of those is the man whose heroics saved the day for the Rockets in the clash with the Warriors.
Unfortunately, he picked up an injury in that game, which is why he’s now doubtful for Saturday’s clash. Without him on the court, Houston might not be as dominant in the air as when he’s around.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Prediction
We think that Oklahoma is the better team. Led by Gilgeous-Alexander, these guys look unstoppable on the offense. Sure, the Rockets are great defensively, but we doubt they will be able to do much on Saturday.
Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder -5