Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
What could be more exciting than a clash between two Western Conference frontrunners just weeks before the start of the play-offs? These sides have already met three times this season, trading home victories. The series currently stands at 2:1 in favour of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Houston Rockets have every chance to level it up.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have won 10 of their last 12 games. Their late-season surge has been fuelled by an unexpected offensive upswing. Over that stretch, the team is averaging 122.1 points per game, compared to their season average of 114.3. The duo of Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün combined for 41.7 points during this run. Additionally, Amen Thompson recently returned from injury. He has now featured in six games, averaging 14.2 points in 30 minutes on the court.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are riding an 11-game winning streak. During this span, they are putting up an impressive 124.6 points per game. Their talisman, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, remains firmly in the MVP conversation, averaging 33 points and 7.2 assists over his last nine appearances. Jaylen Williams is also back in action, and in the four games since his return from injury, he has averaged 21 points while shooting 53.8% from the field.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
In their regular-season meetings, these two have never combined for fewer than 233 points. Their most recent encounter saw both teams abandon defence entirely, resulting in a total of 265 points. Given this trend, it is unlikely either side will change their approach now. The most logical option is to back Total Over.
