Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game
Since winning four straight games, the Oklahoma City Thunder has now lost two in a row, but they very well could pick up a win tonight as they host the Houston Rockets. The Rockets are just 1-13 on the season with their lone victory coming against the Thunder when the two met earleir this season.
Many media members had Rockets rookie Jalen Green pegged as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, but he hasn’t really been all that special so far. Outside of a few flashy plays, Green has not performed well, and NBA.com has him ranked at number 8 on the Kia Rookie of the Year ladder. While averaging 13.9 points in 31.9 minutes per game, Green is shooting a poor 36.0% from the field and 27.4 from downtown. He isn’t really impacting the game elsewhere, also, with just 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Thunder rookie Josh Giddey, however, is off to a great start in his NBA career. Holding solid at number 4 in the rookie rankings, Giddey is averaging 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.8 minutes per game. His biggest downside right now is his shooting: 37.1% from the field and 25.6% from three. If Giddey can pick up his shooting percentages, thus adding to his points per game, he very well could find himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Josh Giddey
- PF: Darius Bazley
- C: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Rockets
- PG: Kevin Porter Jr.
- SG: Jalen Green
- SF: Jae’Sean Tate
- PF: Daniel Theis
- C: Christian Wood
Injuries
Thunder
- Vit Krejci is OUT (G League – on assignment).
- Theo Maledon is OUT (G League – on assignment).
Rockets
- Usman Garuba is OUT (G League – on assignment).
- Daishen Nix is OUT (G League – two way).
- Kevin Porter Jr. is QUESTIONABLE (left thigh contusion).
- John Wall is OUT (personal reasons).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 23-24 against the Rockets in the regular season (15-9 at home, 8-15 on the road) and 7-9 against the Rockets in the playoffs (5-2 at home, 2-7 on the road).
- The Thunder has won the season series with the Rockets 7 times, lost it 4 times, and tied 2 times.
- The Thunder won the regular season series last season against the Rockets 2-1 (1-1 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder is 0-1 against the Rockets so far this season (0-0 at home, 0-1 on the road).