Have the Thunder got enough to shock the Rockets in Game 7? Photo by @NBAStats (Twitter)
- The Houston Rockets have been unable to finish games in their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 7 now scheduled for Wednesday night
- Chris Paul was in vintage form against his former team to pull the Thunder out of their 3-2 hole
- Get the latest odds, betting discussion and a pick ahead of the decisive Game 7 below
This series has been loaded with narrative throughout. Chris Paul has more than played his part, delivering down the stretch to wrestle Oklahoma City back into games. Paul was magnificent in Monday’s Game 6, putting the Thunder within a win of a second-round spot.
Most significantly, Paul, little over a year after being discarded by James Harden and the Rockets, could knock them out. Russell Westbrook, who joined his former teammate Harden in Houston, has struggled on his return from injury. He was completely outplayed by Paul on Monday.
The latest Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets odds favor the team from Texas.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds at DraftKings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +5 (-109) | +160 | N/A |
| Houston Rockets | -5 (-112) | -195 | N/A |
Odds taken September 1st
Westbrook Dominates the Ball
Whether the decision of Mike D’Antoni or the backcourt stars, Houston got it horribly wrong down the stretch on Monday. A rusty Westbrook was forcing the offense, while Harden was a passenger, standing way beyond the three-point line and providing no off-ball movement.
Harden put up his numbers again (32 points on 22 shots), but the offense was sloppy throughout with the two former MVPs combining for 12 turnovers, three of which came in the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Paul combined for zero turnovers in the last 12 minutes.
How Game 7 played out was one of the concerns when these two high usage superstars were paired. Westbrook’s usage rate was higher than Harden’s for the game, and with Harden shooting three-for-11 from deep, the Rockets’ offense was messy. They did not help each other, instead making it more difficult for one another.
Russell Westbrook in the clutch tonight:
1 airball
1 missed layup
2 turnovers pic.twitter.com/xy4BtSte2e— StatMuse (@statmuse) September 1, 2020
The return of Westbrook has not had the positive impact Rockets backers will have hoped for. He has taken the ball out of Harden’s hands, something Houston cannot afford to happen in Game 7.
Dort the Shot Maker
A lot has been made of Luguentz Dort’s ability to trouble Harden. His offensive output is crucial too, however. The Rockets show him no respect, they leave his defender hanging in the lane, letting him shoot or drive.
Dort was freezing cold in Game 5 and took way more shots than he should have done. He took seven fewer shots in Game 6 in slightly fewer minutes, and importantly hit a few.
Draining a couple of threes might not alter the defense, but it gives the Thunder some offense from a player who makes them play four-on-five on that end. The occasional lay-up off a drive, two or three shots from beyond the arc falling, makes the game that much easier for OKC.
Dort reaching double figures, particularly if he can get off to a good start, could be pivotal in Game 7.
Unbalanced Series
This hasn’t been a typical deep series. The Rockets have outplayed the Thunder for the majority of the first six games, all three of their wins coming by double digits. All of the Thunder’s victories have been tight games, in which Paul has led OKC down the stretch, making plays for others and hitting those trademark mid-range jumpers.
In a one-off game, Houston should have the firepower to blow the Thunder away. Perhaps this game is over before the half and Paul has no chance to work his late-game magic. If it’s within reach into the fourth, though, there’s only one team in this series who have executed in the clutch.
The Thunder need a lot to go their way to win Game 7. They need their guards to all be on top of their game at both ends. They need Steven Adams to get some cheap points in the paint. They need Harden to struggle from deep, they need Westbrook to be the player he was on Monday. They need Dort to get some points.
It seems like a reach to back OKC to pull off another win, but with Paul playing like he has, they look a good price to steal this series.
Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder moneyline (+164)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
source https://casinonewsblogger.com/rockets-vs-thunder-game-7-odds-and-picks/
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