NBA Series Preview: Russell Westbrook and the Thunder try to even the series in Game 2.
#6 Oklahoma City Thunder (47-36) vs. #3 Houston Rockets (56-27).
Line: Rockets -7.5. Total 224.
Series: Rockets lead 1-0.
Houston dismantled the Thunder in the second half of Sunday’s game, outscoring them 59-33. James Harden came out strong in the third quarter, taking the ball to the basket hard and scoring 13 points. Patrick Beverley added 8 points in the third quarter, hitting two of his four three-pointers in less than seven minutes.
Harden scored 20 points in the second half and the Rockets’ bench added 24 second-half points. Harden finished the game with 37 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while Beverley added a career playoff high of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Beverley shot 4-for-6 from three-point land.
Russell Westbrook scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. However, he struggled with his shot, going 6-for-23 from the field. He struggled with his shot because Beverley was all over Westbrook like a dog all over a bone.
Victor Oladipo struggled with his shot, too, to the tune of 1-for-12 for 6 points. Oklahoma City shot 37% from the field for the game.
Sunday’s Game 1 for the Thunder was reminiscent of their Game 1 in the Western Conference semifinals against San Antonio last year when the Spurs buried the Thunder 124-92. Westbrook shot 5-for-19 in that game for 14 points. Oklahoma City bounced back in Game 2. Westbrook scored 29 points as the Thunder won 98-97 in Game 2 and eventually won the series four games to two.
Now the big difference between last year and this year is that OKC had Kevin Durant last year. However, the concept is still the same. I have always believed that a team is never as good or as bad as their last game.
Oklahoma City losing by 31 points in Game 1 does not guarantee a win or even or even a cover in Game 2. However, good teams bounce back from losses like that.
For instance, Memphis lost by 29 in Game 1 to San Antonio four days ago and was down 26 to the Spurs in Game 2. The Grizzlies did wake up and played hard in the second half and cut the lead to four points late in the third quarter. The Spurs still won by 14 points in the end. Although many would say the Grizzlies were playing 5 against 8 as the officiating was terribly one-sided in that game.
The Thunder are a better team than Memphis. Houston is not as a good a team as San Antonio. Oklahoma City has not won at Houston this year in three tries. The Thunder did not win at San Antonio last year in their first three tries. OKC did break through on try #4 in Game 2 of their playoff series last year at San Antonio following a 32-point loss to them in Game 1.
I expect the Thunder to also break through in try #4 this year at Houston. Oklahoma City may not win the game tonight. However, the game should be competitive and the Thunder should cover the 7.5 points. Beverley is probably not going to score 21 points again and he is not going to hold Westbrook to 22 points again. After all, Westbrook scored 49 points with Beverley playing at Houston back on January 5.
My pick:
Oklahoma City Thunder +7.5, laying $110 to win $100 (1 unit, normal play).
Good luck.
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