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
It’s been just two days since the Oklahoma City Thunder dropped a 102-89 decision to the Houston Rockets on the road, but tonight the two teams meet again at the Paycom Center. If the Thunder can end their 6-game losing streak, they will tie the season series with the Rockets at 2-2, but Houston is streaking, having won 3 consecutive games.
OKC’s offense has been hit or miss—mostly miss—all season long, but one thing that they do well is slowing down their opponents and forcing tough shots. The Thunder has a long way to go in terms of being a contender in the West—or a playoff team for that matter—but they are building a solid foundation with the young core by focusing on defense even when shots won’t fall.
The Thunder is a slight favorite tonight, and based on how they have played at home all season long, it wouldn’t surprise me if they come away with the win. Houston is the only team in the league that doesn’t have a road win yet, however, so perhaps they will make an extra push tonight to end that streak.
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: Eric Gordon
- SF: Garrison Matthews
- PF: Jae’Sean Tate
- C: Christian Wood
Injuries
Thunder
- Gabriel Deck is OUT (G League — On Assignment).
- Derrick Favors is OUT (non-COVID illness).
- Vit Krejci is OUT (G League — On Assignment).
- Mike Muscala is QUESTIONABLE (right ankle soreness).
- Kenrich Williams is OUT (sprained right ankle).
Rockets
- D.J. Augustin is OUT (health and safety protocols).
- Usman Garuba is OUT (right thigh contusion).
- Jalen Green is OUT (strained left hamstring).
- John Wall is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 24-25 against the Rockets in the regular season (16-9 at home, 8-16 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 1-2 against the Rockets so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-2 on the road).