Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction & Picks - NBA

USA - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
10/21/25 19:30
Houston Rockets

Prediction:

 

Rockets (+7.5) cover the spread

-110
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 by Paul Tamayo | in NBA Picks

The Houston Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA 2025-26 game on October 21, Tuesday, at the Paycom Center. 

It's opening night of the NBA, and it's the much-awaited ring night for the Thunder. Fresh from winning the franchise's first championship, the Thunder are bringing back the entirety of its core from last year.  

This is still the same Thunder team that ranked 3rd in offensive rating (120.3) and 1st in defensive rating (107.5). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league MVP, averaged a league-best 32.7 points on top of 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals. 

The challenge for the Thunder early in the season could be on Jalen Williams' wrist injury. The All-Star forward underwent surgery for his injured right wrist, and he's still listed day-to-day in the team's injury report. It's still uncertain if Williams will suit up on Tuesday's game against the Rockets.

Speaking of the Rockets, they'll be welcoming former MVP and champion Kevin Durant to their camp. It could be a perfect fit, as the defensive-minded Rockets only ranked 13th in offensive rating (115.3) last season.

However, the Rockets will be missing the services of starting guard Fred VanVleet, who suffered a Torn ACL injury during the summer.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Form

Table

Teams % P W L Series
1 Oklahoma City Thunder
0.78 82 64 18
8 Houston Rockets
0.634 82 52 30 1

Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets Latest Matches

Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder Latest matches
L W W W W L
Victories

4/6 (67%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Jul 19, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
80 :  109
Charlotte Hornets

Jul 16, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
95 :  81
New Orleans Pelicans

Jul 15, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Orlando Magic
75 :  92
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jul 12, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
104 :  85
Indiana Pacers

Jul 10, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Brooklyn Nets
81 :  90
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jul 8, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Utah Jazz
86 :  82
Oklahoma City Thunder
W W L W W L
Victories

4/6 (67%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Jul 19, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
80 :  109
Charlotte Hornets

Jul 16, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
95 :  81
New Orleans Pelicans

Jul 12, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
104 :  85
Indiana Pacers

Jul 5, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Oklahoma City Thunder
80 :  92
Memphis Grizzlies

Jun 22, 2025 - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
103 :  91
Indiana Pacers

Jun 16, 2025 - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
120 :  109
Indiana Pacers
W L W L W W
Victories

4/6 (67%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Jul 15, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Orlando Magic
75 :  92
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jul 10, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Brooklyn Nets
81 :  90
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jul 8, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Utah Jazz
86 :  82
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jul 7, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Philadelphia 76ers
78 :  89
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jun 19, 2025 - NBA

Indiana Pacers
108 :  91
Oklahoma City Thunder

Jun 13, 2025 - NBA

Indiana Pacers
104 :  111
Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets Latest matches
L L L L L W
Victories

1/6 (17%)

Defeats

5/6 (83%)

Jul 19, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Minnesota Timberwolves
101 :  104
Houston Rockets

Jul 17, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Portland Trail Blazers
102 :  83
Houston Rockets

Jul 14, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Houston Rockets
108 :  111
Atlanta Hawks

Jul 13, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Houston Rockets
83 :  98
Detroit Pistons

Jul 11, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Houston Rockets
92 :  95
LA Clippers

May 4, 2025 - NBA

Houston Rockets
89 :  103
Golden State Warriors
W W L L L L
Victories

2/6 (33%)

Defeats

4/6 (67%)

Jul 14, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Houston Rockets
108 :  111
Atlanta Hawks

Jul 13, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Houston Rockets
83 :  98
Detroit Pistons

Jul 11, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Houston Rockets
92 :  95
LA Clippers

May 4, 2025 - NBA

Houston Rockets
89 :  103
Golden State Warriors

Apr 30, 2025 - NBA

Houston Rockets
131 :  116
Golden State Warriors

Apr 23, 2025 - NBA

Houston Rockets
109 :  94
Golden State Warriors
L L L W L W
Victories

2/6 (33%)

Defeats

4/6 (67%)

Jul 19, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Minnesota Timberwolves
101 :  104
Houston Rockets

Jul 17, 2025 - NBA Summer League

Portland Trail Blazers
102 :  83
Houston Rockets

May 2, 2025 - NBA

Golden State Warriors
107 :  115
Houston Rockets

Apr 28, 2025 - NBA

Golden State Warriors
109 :  106
Houston Rockets

Apr 26, 2025 - NBA

Golden State Warriors
104 :  93
Houston Rockets

Apr 11, 2025 - NBA

Los Angeles Lakers
140 :  109
Houston Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder against Houston Rockets : Head to Head (H2H)

Oklahoma City Thunder

50 %

Houston Rockets

50 %

Apr 4, 2025 - NBA

Houston Rockets
125 :  111
Oklahoma City Thunder

Mar 3, 2025 - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
137 :  128
Houston Rockets

Dec 14, 2024 - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
111 :  96
Houston Rockets

Dec 1, 2024 - NBA

Houston Rockets
119 :  116
Oklahoma City Thunder

Nov 8, 2024 - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
126 :  107
Houston Rockets

Mar 27, 2024 - NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder
126 :  132
Houston Rockets

Players list

Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
C. Holmgren I. Hartenstein S. Gilgeous-Alexander

C. Wallace

L. Dort

Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
A. Sengun S. Adams

A. Thompson

J. Smith

K. Durant

Substitutes

Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder

C. Youngblood

B. Barnhizer

A. Mitchell

A. Wiggins

A. Caruso

J. Williams

O. Dieng

Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
C. Capela

J. Davison

K. Harris

A. Holiday

J. Okogie

R. Sheppard

J. Green

T. Eason

D. Finney-Smith

J. Tate

Oklahoma City Thunder - Houston Rockets Key Points

  1. The Thunder ranked 3rd in offensive rating (120.3) and 1st in defensive rating (107.5) last season.
  2. The Rockets ranked 13th in offensive rating (115.3) and 4th in defensive rating (110.8) last season.
  3. The Thunder could miss the services of Jalen Williams (wrist).
  4. The Rockets will miss the services of Fred VanVleet (ACL).

Our Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Prediction

It's ring night for the newly-crowned champions, but Kevin Durant and the Rockets could spoil the fun. Even with the injury to Fred VanVleet, this is still a stacked Rockets squad, especially with the emergence of Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

Of course, the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder still own the advantage, but the Rockets have what it takes to keep this game close. Our prediction for the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets match is: Rockets (+7.5) cover the spread.

Prediction:

 

Rockets (+7.5) cover the spread

-110
$350 offered for betting!

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Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Picks