The Oklahoma City Thunder continues to stay in within arm’s reach of a playoff spot, and as they hover close to .500 on the season, they can get a little bit closer on Wednesday night as they play their final game before heading into the NBA All-Star Break. For the second time in less than two weeks, the Thunder will host the Houston Rockets, who hold claim to the worst record in the NBA standings right now.
OKC is a double-digit favorite for just the second time all season, with the first time coming when these two teams met on February 4th. That matchup was a blowout that ended in a 153-121 victory for the Thunder as they set a new franchise-high in points scored. Both teams are a little healthier than they were on that night, but the Thunder should be able to take care of business and enter the All-Star weekend just one game back of being even on the season.
Game Details
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
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Houston Rockets Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Jaylin Williams
Rockets
- PG: Jalen Green
- SG: Jae’Sean Tate
- SF: Kenyon Martin Jr.
- PF: Jabari Smith
- C: Alperen Sengun
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Chet Holmgren is OUT (right foot surgery).
- Tre Mann is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Aleksej Pokusevski is OUT (left tibial plateau; non-displaced fracture).
- Olivier Sarr is OUT (G League — two-way).
Rockets
- Kevin Porter Jr. is OUT (left foot contusion).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 25-27 against the Rockets in the regular season (17-9 at home, 8-18 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 5 times, and tied 2 times.
- The Thunder lost the regular season series last season against the Rockets 2-1 (1-0 at home, 0-2 on the road).
- The Thunder is 1-2 against the Rockets so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-2 on the road).