Rockets vs Thunder Game 3 Odds and Picks
- The Houston Rockets lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0 in their Western Conference first round series
- Without Russell Westbrook, the Rockets have dominated the first two games with contributions deep into their rotation
- Get the latest odds, betting discussion and a pick below
The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder matchup on Saturday August 22nd for Game 3. What looked set to be a very competitive series has not delivered on that promise so far, with Houston comfortably winning the first two games.
Russell Westbrook has not played against his former team thus far, but the Thunder have struggled at both ends of the floor. This is a must-win for Chris Paul and co. if they are to put the Rockets under any pressure.
Courtesy of FanDuel, the Game 3 Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder odds are in the table below.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds at FanDuel | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Rockets | -3 (-110) | -146 | O 223.5 (-110) |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +3 (-110) | +124 | U 223.5 (-110) |
Odds taken August 21st
Dort Slows the Beard
Luguentz Dort returned for the Thunder in Game 2 and he made a big difference on the defensive end. Dort has enjoyed success guarding James Harden throughout the season. His combination of strength, lateral quickness and great hands slowed Harden once again – the former MVP shot just five-for-16 including two-for-11 on three-point attempts.
Dort stayed in front of Harden better than any other Thunder defender has done so far. He moved his feet well and, for the most part, remained disciplined. Closing driving lanes is crucial against Harden, and Dort did that well. Billy Donovan needs a similar level of defensive performance from Dort if OKC are to turn this series around.
Crucially, Dort drained a couple of threes, too. Although inefficient, hitting a couple of shots should make the Rockets defense take greater notice of him. The Thunder will benefit hugely if he can shoot above his underwhelming season average of 29% from beyond the arc.
Playoff games shooting under 20%. (active stars in the bubble.)
James Harden – 6
Kyle Lowry – 6
Paul George – 6
Russell Westbrook – 4
Kawhi Leonard – 3
LeBron James – 2
Giannis Antetokounmpo – 1
Joel Embiid – 1
Jimmy Butler – 1
Damian Lillard – 1*Harden shooting 16.7% today.*
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) August 20, 2020
Like any superstar, it’s never as straight forward as just stopping Harden. Dort did a great job, but the MVP finalist gave a passing masterclass when the help came. Harden finished with nine assists and could have easily had more.
Houston’s Stellar Defense
As Harden was struggling, the Rockets shared the offensive load with seven players scoring in double figures. The ball was being moved well and seven of the eight players used hit threes. Eric Gordon was the only exception.
These are the possessions OKC has to avoid vs. Houston's switching. Houston able to switch and stay in front. No movement, no actions, now they are up against the clock and have to create vs. a defense waiting to help. pic.twitter.com/TEwCBs2qnp
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) August 20, 2020
The defense was the most impressive factor in their Game 2 win, however. Harden showed great effort, Gordon was excellent and as a team they limited the damage done by Steven Adams. OKC’s center didn’t make a single field goal in the second half and he struggled with the relentless pressure from Houston, turning the ball over on four occasions.
Game 2 was the sort of defensive performance that Daryl Morey will have envisaged when the Rockets traded away Clint Capela at the deadline. The lack of rim protection can become a non-factor if the perimeter defense is as intense as it was on Thursday – the Thunder’s perimeter players were rarely able to get to the paint.
Back the Over in Game 3
The Thunder need to make changes if they are to come back in this series. Donovan could, or perhaps should, try using Danilo Gallinari at the five. OKC have struggled horribly on the offensive end, and despite a big night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they were too often stagnant with a lack of ball and player movement.
https://twitter.com/MjsGoat/status/1296571016743919619
Game 3 may well be played at a quicker pace even though it seems unlikely Russell Westbrook will return while Houston are in such a commanding position.
The Rockets moneyline is tempting, but the price is on the short side. The ‘over’ represents the best value – the Thunder should look to play a bit quicker and it’s unlikely Harden and Gordon will miss so many shots.
Pick: Over 223.5 (-110)
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.
