Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Tips

The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship last year and have emerged as one of the power teams in the NBA.

The Thunder have opened as the favorite in the futures market to repeat as NBA champions with plenty of good reason.

The OKC championship was no fluke, as the Thunder are built for sustained success.

NBC has returned as a leading network TV broadcast partner of the NBA. Oklahoma City will host the Houston Rockets in the 2025-26 NBA season opener on NBC.

The Houston Rockets broke out with a strong playoff season last year. Even more is expected this year.

Kevin Durant is now in Houston to provide scoring and an NBA championship pedigree.

Rockets at Thunder Preview

Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK, is the venue for the NBA season opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, October 21, 2205, with a tipoff time of 7:30 p.m. ET. NBC will provide television coverage.

Public Betting Odds Factors

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending NBA champions and will be a strong draw for gamblers as the home team that will raise the banner before its opening game.

The Houston Rockets are a quality team that the public sector largely ignores.

Rockets at Thunder Predictions

Handicapping Factors to Consider

Houston will offer hidden NBA betting value, at least early in the season, because of their lack of public popularity.

Houston is an emerging contender that is rapidly improving.

The casual sector has not yet caught on to the Rockets, which should protect its value.

Oklahoma City provided strong value and profits against the NBA betting odds in 2025-26.

Oklahoma City faces the challenge of being the target of oddsmakers and opponents, thus facing a possible drop in value.

Oklahoma City has one of the strongest home court advantages in the NBA.

OKC will be motivated to show well for their fans in an extra special home opener on NBC, with the banner being raised.

Rockets at Thunder Prime Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder

Rockets at Thunder Betting Tips

The Rockets as 8-point road dogs and the Thunder as 8-point home favorites.

The Rockets are +260 moneyline dogs with the Thunder as -325 moneyline favorites.

The Rockets and Thunder opened with a total of 225.5.

Houston Rockets

Last year, the Houston Rockets were 55-34 straight up, 46-41-2 against the NBA betting odds, and 47-40-2 over the total.

Houston acquired Future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from Phoenix.

Durant is a 2-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors and is a 15-time NBA All-Star.

Last year, Durant averaged 26.6 points per game, remaining a valuable asset.

Alperen Sengun has emerged as one of the top centers in the NBA.

Last year, Sengun averaged 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder were 83-21 straight up, 65-35-4 against the spread, and 54-48-2 over the total.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder as the marquee man in OKC. Last year, he was the NBA Finals MVP and is a 3-time NBA All-Star.

Alexander was a dominant asset with 32.7 points per game. In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 29.9 points per game.

General manager Sam Presti earned a well-deserved NBA Executive of the Year Award in 2025 after the NBA championship. He has been the general manager of OKC since 2007.