Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets willmeet again todayfor Game 3 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. TheRockets’ three-point shooting continues to make a difference for them, even when James Harden isn’t as efficient as usual. That’s how the Rockets beat the Thunder 111-98 to jump to a 2-0 lead.
Chris Paul had just 14 points and was -36 in 36 minutes, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced-back in a big fashion with 31 points and 6 rebounds but it just wasn’t enough to keep up with the Rockets’ fast-pace offense.
James Harden had a modest game with 21 points on 5/16 shooting (2/11 from beyond the arc) but added 9 assists without committing a single turnover. He also had 3 steals and 1 block for Mike D’Antoni’s team.
Billy Donovan knows his job is at risk if they’re swept by the Rockets in the first round and Chris Paul’s legacy may also be on the line. More impressively, Houston is doing this without All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook.
Head-To-Head:Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets
This all-time series is as close as it gets. Following that loss on Thursday, the Thunder are now 114-110 in the playoffs vs. the Rockets. Houston continues to dominate their recent matchups after beating them in 5 games a couple of seasons ago.
Match Information:Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets
Date:Saturday,Aug. 22
Time:6 p.m. ET
Location:HP Field House Orlando
Injuries
Oklahoma City Thunder
Isaiah Roby:Foot, Out for the season
Houston Rockets
Russell Westbrook:Quadriceps, Out
Luc Mbah a Moute:Knee, Out indefinitely
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Game 3: Odds And Predictions
Oddsmakers expect the Houston Rockets to jump to a 3-0 lead as they enter the game as 3-point favorites. They’re also expecting both offense to continue performing at a high level with 222.0 projected points.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Handicap | Houston -3 | Houston -3 |
| Game Total | o/u 222.0 | o/u 222.5 |
* Odds via DraftKings & FanDuel
SURVEY Who'll win Game 3?
Who'll win Game 3?
ALREADY VOTED 3 PEOPLE
How Can I WatchOklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Game 3?
Game 3:Sat, Aug 22 Houston at Oklahoma City, 6 ET, ESPN, ESPN App, NBA League Pass.