{"id":744,"date":"2026-10-31T08:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T07:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/en\/?p=744"},"modified":"2026-11-04T08:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T08:09:42","slug":"thunder-vs-rockets-preview-predictions-stats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/en\/thunder-vs-rockets-preview-predictions-stats\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets: preview, predictions and stats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Misfortunes never come singly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if losing Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to serious injuries were not enough, the Thunder will now be without Chet Holmgren<\/a> for eight to ten weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is devastating news for one of the title favourites, who now face an uphill battle if they are to maintain their championship ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Williams, Wallace and Holmgren all sidelined, Oklahoma City have suffered a major blow, leaving Mark Daigneault with a severely depleted squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tonight, they travel to Houston to face a Rockets team coming off their first defeat of the season, against Dallas in the NBA Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hosts also have injury concerns of their own, with Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunder vs Rockets date and time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Date:<\/strong> 31 October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time<\/strong>: These are the Thunder vs Rockets start times by time zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United Kingdom<\/td>00:30<\/td><\/tr>
Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela<\/td>18:30<\/td><\/tr>
Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua<\/td>16:30<\/td><\/tr>
Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles)<\/td>16:30<\/td><\/tr>
Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay<\/td>19:30<\/td><\/tr>
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama<\/td>18:30<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Venue<\/strong>: Toyota Center, Houston.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunder vs Rockets starting fives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Thunder<\/strong><\/td>Rockets<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Shai Gilgegous-Alexander<\/td>Fred VanVleet<\/td><\/tr>
Jared McCain<\/td>Amen Thompson<\/td><\/tr>
Ajay Mitchell<\/td>Kevin Durant<\/td><\/tr>
Kenrich Williams<\/td>Jabari Smith Jr.<\/td><\/tr>
Isaiah Hartenstein<\/td>Clint Capela<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thunder vs Rockets: best bet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Logic suggests that, with such absences, the Rockets are the strong favourites to win on their home court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we cannot rule out the Thunder, with Shai at the helm and a squad that knows each other very well and may come out highly motivated in situations like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rockets were the best team in the West in terms of form until last night’s defeat against Dallas, despite Kevin Durant’s 28 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latest on the Thunder: absences and form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The team coached by Mark Daigneault has suffered another blow in the form of an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holmgren has recently joined the serious absentees Williams and Wallace, and they are also without Alex Caruso because of an ankle injury. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Player to watch: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If he already had to put in extra effort because of the injuries to Williams and Wallace, he will now have to give double because of Holmgren’s injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project, and this season, runs directly through the hands and form of Shai and his most MVP-like version yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far this season he is averaging 26 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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