The 2025-26 NBA season will get underway on Tuesday with the reigning champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder internet hosting the Houston Rockets. OKC will elevate its championship banner on 2025 NBA Opening Evening because the Thunder went a franchise-best 68-14 en path to the primary title in group historical past final season. In the meantime, Houston is coming off a 52-30 season and earned the No. 2 seed within the West earlier than being eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs. The group then added four-time scoring champ, Kevin Durant, within the offseason as he’ll debut versus his former group. Small ahead Jalen Williams (wrist) is out for OKC, whereas Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) is out for Houston.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET from the Paycom Heart in Oklahoma Metropolis, Okla. The Thunder gained the season collection, 3-2, final 12 months. OKC is a 6.5-point favourite within the newest Rockets vs. Thunder odds, whereas the over/beneath for complete factors scored is 226.5. Earlier than locking in any Thunder vs. Rockets picks, ensure that to try the NBA predictions and betting recommendation from the SportsLine Projection Mannequin.
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The SportsLine Projection Mannequin simulates each NBA sport 10,000 occasions and has returned effectively over $10,000 in betting revenue for $100 gamers on its top-rated NBA picks over the previous seven seasons. The mannequin enters the 2025-26 NBA season on a scorching 160-118 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $4,000. It additionally went 24-11 (69%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks final season. Anybody following its NBA betting recommendation at sportsbooks and on betting apps might have seen large returns.
Now, the mannequin has simulated Rockets vs. Thunder 10,000 occasions and simply revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You’ll be able to head to SportsLine now to see the mannequin’s picks. Listed here are a number of NBA odds and NBA betting traces for Thunder vs. Rockets:
| Rockets vs. Thunder unfold | Oklahoma Metropolis -6.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook |
| Rockets vs. Thunder over/beneath | 226.5 factors |
| Rockets vs. Thunder cash line | Oklahoma Metropolis -245, Houston +200 |
| Rockets vs. Thunder picks | See picks at SportsLine |
| Rockets vs. Thunder streaming | Fubo (Attempt at no cost) |
Why the Rockets can cowl
Whereas OKC took three of 5 video games final 12 months outright, Houston went 3-2 in opposition to the unfold (ATS) in these video games, together with covers in every of the final two. Then, Houston went out and made the most important transaction of the offseason in buying and selling for Durant, the NBA’s eighth all-time main scorer who averaged 26.6 factors a 12 months in the past on 52.7% capturing from the sector and 43% from past the arc. Durant solves the one weak spot from Houston final 12 months in outdoors capturing, as his commerce did not price the Rockets to lose anybody that made up the core of their fourth-ranked protection.
Houston led the NBA in rebounds final 12 months and allowed the second-fewest made 3-pointers. Amen Thompson made All-Defensive First Group, regardless of simply beginning half of the season, and he’s poised for a much bigger position this 12 months. Additionally returning is Alperen Sengun, who’s coming off his first All-Star look and averaged 19.1 factors, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 2024-25. See which group to again at SportsLine.
Why the Thunder can cowl
Not solely did Oklahoma Metropolis have the perfect NBA document final season, but it surely additionally had the perfect unfold document at 53-25-4. The group went 35-6 outright at house within the common season, defeating Houston by nine-plus factors each occasions it hosted the Rockets. OKC’s level differential over the span of the common plus postseason was the perfect in NBA historical past, and there was no attrition this offseason. Each Thunder participant to play within the 2025 NBA Playoffs is beneath contract for this season.
That features MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who gained the scoring title and whose 32.7 ppg is essentially the most in NBA historical past for a participant on a championship-winning group. Even Houston’s staunch protection was no match for Gilgeous-Alexander as he dropped 51 on the Rockets final 12 months, along with having a pair of 32-point, 8-rebound outings versus Houston. His offensive exploits, considerably, overshadowed the truth that the Thunder led the NBA in defensive ranking, steals, area purpose proportion allowed and 3-point proportion allowed in 2024-25. See which group to again at SportsLine.
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The right way to make Rockets vs. Thunder picks
SportsLine’s mannequin has simulated Thunder vs. Rockets and is leaning Below the full, projecting 220 mixed factors. The mannequin additionally says one facet of the unfold hits in 70% of simulations in an A-rated choose. You’ll be able to head to SportsLine to see the mannequin’s NBA picks.
So who wins Rockets vs. Thunder, and which facet of the unfold hits in 70% of simulations in an A-rated choose? Go to SportsLine now to see which facet of the Thunder vs. Rockets unfold to again, all from the mannequin that has returned effectively over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and discover out.
