Fred VanVleet – Heartland Sports

Thunder Against the Spread | OKC a Solid Favorite for Opening Night Clash with Houston

It’s opening night. Oklahoma City is presenting the 2025 NBA Finals banner. Thunder players are receiving their championship rings. It’s going to be crazy at the Paycom Center. After all of that, there’s still a game to be played, and even though the Rockets are a young squad ready to take the next step, OKC is still the favorite to repeat as champions. Both teams are missing a key starter—Jalen Williams is out for OKC, and Fred VanVleet is out for Houston—plus Kevin Durant will be in the building for his debut with the Rockets. When it comes down to it, the Thunder is a deeper team, and they are going to get a solid win for the home crowd on opening night.

Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #25 Preview – NBA Cup Semifinal: Houston Rockets

Zachary LowDecember 14, 2024 No Comments Alperen Sengun Chet Holmgren Fred VanVleet Houston Rockets Isaiah Hartenstein Jalen Green Jalen Williams Luguentz Dort Oklahoma Sooners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets meet in the NBA Cup Semifinal in Las Vegas on Saturday night in what should be yet another exciting matchup between two of the top teams in Western Conference and two of the best defenses in the entire league. Both teams feature young rosters with a lot of talent, but OKC has quite a bit more experience across the board when it comes to the big stage.

Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Favored in NBA Cup Semifinal Against Houston

Zachary LowDecember 14, 2024 1 Comment Alperen Sengun Fred VanVleet Houston Rockets Isaiah Hartenstein Jalen Green Jalen Williams Luguentz Dort Oklahoma Sooners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City is statistically better than Houston in nearly every category. Stats matter far less than actual matchups, however, which is why I’m taking the Thunder to cover the spread against the Rockets. OKC is the more experienced team and the more talented one. The teams looked pretty evenly matched in the narrow Houston win just a couple of weeks ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has really ramped up his play lately, Isaiah Hartenstein is fitting into OKC’s lineup like a tailored glove, and Jalen Williams is making his case to be a first-time All-Star. Despite Houston’s talented young roster, they’re still a couple of years behind the Thunder, and on a bigger stage like this one, the better team will win out.

Thunder Against the Spread | How is OKC Such a Heavy Dog in Toronto?

Zachary LowMarch 16, 2023 No Comments Fred VanVleet Oklahoma Sooners Pascal Siakim Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Toronto Raptors

Am I missing something? OKC has the better record, dominated the Raptors when they played in November, and is playing like the better team as of late. I’m not sure how Toronto is a favorite, let alone by 6 points, so I feel like taking OKC to cover is easy. Taking the Thunder to win, however, is smart.

OKC Thunder | Game #70 Preview: Toronto Raptors

Zachary LowMarch 16, 2023 No Comments Fred VanVleet Oklahoma Sooners Pascal Siakim Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Toronto Raptors

The two teams have had different results lately, though. OKC has won 6 of their 7 last, and Toronto has dropped 5 of their last 8. The Raptors are favored in tonight’s meeting, but the Thunder has played some really solid basketball lately, so I expect that this one will come down to the wire.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #24 Preview: Toronto Raptors

Zachary LowDecember 8, 2021 No Comments Darius Bazley Fred VanVleet Josh Giddey Luguentz Dort Pascal Siakim Scottie Barnes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Toronto Raptors

The Oklahoma City Thunder ended an 8-game losing streak on Monday with a 114-103 win over the Pistons in Detroit which featured a spectacular 4th quarter comeback. The Thunder caught fire in the final period, making 13 straight field goals, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from concussion protocol to finish the night with a career-high 13 assists. Tonight, the Thunder wraps up a 3-game road trip in Toronto as they take on the Raptors.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Thunder Against The Spread | Ride Or Die As 7.5-Point Home Dogs To Toronto

M. HofeldMarch 31, 2021 No Comments Fred VanVleet Kyle Lowry Pascal Siakim

Toronto is limping into this game having won just one of its last ten games. Both teams are currently riding a three-game losing streak but the Raptors are trending below 50% in terms of every major trend against the spread. Toronto bottoms out when they’re favored between 6 to 9 points. In that situation they are covering the spread just 30% of the time.

Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC Thunder | Game #47: Raptors

Zachary LowMarch 31, 2021 No Comments Aleksej Pokusevski Fred VanVleet Gary Trent Isaiah Roby Kyle Lowry Moses Brown OG Anunoby Pascal Siakim Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Svi Mykhailuk Theo Maledon Toronto Raptors

The Oklahoma City Thunder tank session is in full swing, but that doesn’t mean the good guys won’t pick up a win every now and then. After a 21-point drubbing by the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, the Thunder will have a much better shot at a win tonight as they host the Toronto Raptors.

Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC Thunder | Game #41 Preview: Raptors

Zachary LowJanuary 15, 2020 No Comments Abdel Nader Andre Roberson Chris Paul Danilo Gallinari Dewan Hernandez Fred VanVleet Justin Patton KLyle Lowry Luguentz Dort Marc Gasol Nerlens Noel Norman Powell OG Anunoby Pascal Siakim Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shamorie Ponds Steven Adams Terrance Ferguson Toronto Raptors

Tonight, OKC hosts the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors (25-14). The Thunder defeated the Raptors in Toronto just a couple of weeks ago in a nail-biter, and tonight’s matchup will likely be a close one as well.

Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC Thunder | Game #32 Preview: Raptors

Zachary LowDecember 29, 2019 No Comments Andre Roberson Chris Paul Darius Bazley Denni Schröder Dewan Hernandez Fred VanVleet Hamidou Diallo Justin Patton Kyle Lowry Luguentz Dort Marc Gasol Matt Thomas Norman Powell OG Anunoby Pascal Siakim Patrick McCaw Serge Ibaka Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Steven Adams Terrance Ferguson Toronto Raptors

Tonight, the Thunder takes on the Raptors (22-10) in Toronto. The Raptors are dealing with a lot injuries, but they have managed to scrape together some solid wins regardless, even without Pascal Siakim, Marc Gasol, and Norman Powell. OKC is also dealing with injuries, and tonight, they will be without Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schröder, both major contributors.