The Oklahoma City Thunder (34-7, 75 points, 1st in Western Conference) face the Houston Rockets (23-14, 60 points, 6th in Western Conference) in a Western Conference Southwest Division matchup. OKC enters as the league’s top team, boasting elite defense and offensive efficiency, while Houston relies on veteran scoring and rebounding to challenge at home. This game could highlight Thunder’s youth against Rockets’ experience, with playoff seeding implications.
Venue Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX (Capacity: 18,055).
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET (Broadcast: Prime Video, FDSOK).
Injury Report
Injuries are impacting both teams, with OKC’s frontcourt depth tested and Houston dealing with a season-ending loss in the backcourt.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
SF Luguentz Dort (left foot soreness): Questionable; missed recent practice but game-time decision.
C Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain): Out; expected back in late January.
PF Nikola Topic (groin): Out; no timeline.
PF Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery): Out for season.
Houston Rockets:
PG Fred VanVleet (ACL): Out for season; placed on IR in December.
SF Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle): Day-to-day; missed last game, game-time decision.
PG Isaiah Crawford (G League – Two-Way): Out.
Key
Player Matchups to Watch
This divisional tilt features high-scoring guards against stout defenses, with rebounding battles key.
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) vs. PG Cam Whitmore (HOU): Gilgeous-Alexander (31.9 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.5 RPG) leads OKC with elite efficiency (54.7% FG). Whitmore (starting sans VanVleet; 12.5 PPG) must contain drives with athleticism.
PF Chet Holmgren (OKC) vs. C Alperen Sengun (HOU): Holmgren (18.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG) stretches the floor (37.3% 3PT). Sengun (21.7 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 6.6 APG) dominates inside with post moves and passing.
SF Jalen Williams (OKC) vs. PF Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU): Williams (17.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG) provides secondary scoring. Smith Jr. (15.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG) shoots 34.2% from three and defends wings.
SG Ajay Mitchell (OKC) vs. SG Amen Thompson (HOU): Mitchell (bench spark; 12.0 PPG) adds playmaking. Thompson (18.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG) crashes boards with athleticism.
Recent Team Forms
Oklahoma City Thunder (7-3 in last 10 games, +12 point differential):
The Thunder have been dominant, averaging 121.3 PPG in their last 10 while allowing 108.1. Road form: 14-4. They’re on a three-game win streak after a 124-95 victory vs. Portland on Dec. 31.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 31 | vs. POR | W 124-95 |
| Dec 29 | vs. ATL | W 140-129 |
| Dec 28 | vs. PHI | W 129-104 |
| Dec 26 | @ SAC | L 108-115 |
| Dec 25 | @ MEM | L 116-137 |
| Dec 23 | vs. LAC | W 128-108 |
| Dec 21 | vs. HOU | W 116-113 |
| Dec 19 | vs. BOS | W 125-116 |
| Dec 17 | @ PHI | L 104-125 |
| Dec 15 | vs. MIL | W 116-104 |
Houston Rockets (5-5 in last 10 games, +3 point differential):
The Rockets have alternated wins, averaging 109.9 PPG in their last 10 while allowing 111.2. Home form: 14-5. They’re coming off a 119-113 win vs. Chicago on Jan. 13.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 13 | vs. CHI | W 119-113 |
| Jan 11 | @ OKC | L 116-119 |
| Jan 9 | vs. LAC | W 128-108 |
| Jan 7 | vs. MEM | W 117-98 |
| Jan 5 | @ LAC | W 128-108 |
| Jan 4 | vs. OKC | L 105-108 |
| Jan 2 | vs. SAC | L 102-129 |
| Dec 31 | @ PHI | W 112-116 |
| Dec 29 | @ ATL | W 129-140 |
| Dec 27 | vs. CLE | W 100-117 |
Series History
The Thunder hold a 125-119 all-time edge over the Rockets in 244 regular-season games (51.2% win rate for OKC). In playoffs, OKC leads 4-3 in series. Houston won the most recent matchup 116-113 on Dec. 21, 2025, but OKC has won 7 of the last 10. At Toyota Center, Houston is 65-58 vs. OKC. Recent games average 228.4 points, trending over in 7 of last 10.
Betting Trends
Moneyline: OKC is 20-5 as favorites; HOU is 7-8 as home underdogs.
Spread (ATS): OKC covers 55% as road favorites; HOU covers 50% as home dogs.
Total (Over/Under): Over has hit in 6 of OKC’s last 10 (avg. 229.4 points/game) and 5 of HOU’s last 10 (avg. 221.1). Head-to-head leans over (7 of last 10 over 221.5).
Trends: Thunder are 7-3 ATS in last 10; Rockets are 5-5 ATS. OKC scores 121.3 PPG (2.2 > HOU allows); HOU scores 117.9 (9.8 > OKC allows).
Game Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder – 4.5
Houston Rockets 222.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, January 14, 2026
