{"id":163517,"date":"2025-10-21T14:57:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T18:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=163517"},"modified":"2025-10-21T14:57:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T18:57:19","slug":"rockets-vs-thunder-preview-opening-night-who-will-come-up-bigger-sga-or-slim-reaper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/21\/rockets-vs-thunder-preview-opening-night-who-will-come-up-bigger-sga-or-slim-reaper\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockets vs. Thunder Preview Opening Night: Who Will Come Up Bigger SGA Or Slim-Reaper?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Houston Rockets<\/a>‘ NBA opening night<\/a> clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> should be fantastic. The Thunder will get their 2025 rings and raise their NBA championship<\/a> banner as they welcome Kevin Durant<\/a> back “home.”<\/p>\n

Rockets vs. Thunder Preview: NBA Opening Night Betting and DFS Insights<\/h2>\n

Houston heads into the 2025-26 season with high hopes after finishing second in the 2024-25 standings and making the biggest splash of the offseason. The Rockets brought the 37-year-old “bucket getter” to solidify their offensive attack and a veteran presence.<\/p>\n

While Durant was the big catch, the Rockets also solidified their depth by signing\/re-signing Clint Capela<\/a>, Steven Adams<\/a>, and Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a>. However, Fred VanVleet<\/a> tore his ACL last month and is likely out for the season. Finney-Smith (ankle) and Jae-Sean Tate<\/a> (ankle) will miss the Thunder contest, while Isaiah Crawford<\/a> (ankle) is questionable.<\/p>\n

Houston went 4-0 during the preseason, scoring a League-High 131 points. Jabari Smith Jr.<\/a> led nine players in double figures during the exhibition season as coach Ime Udoka gave his “regulars” plenty of minutes. Twelve of the 15 Rockets who played in the four preseason games averaged 18 minutes a contest.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City enters the new campaign with essentially the same roster as last year. The Thunder went 4-2 during the exhibition season, though they struggled offensively; they were good defensively — the Thunder were the top-rated team on that end of the court last season.<\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, after a long 2024-25 season, Billy Donovan<\/a> used his regulars sparingly during the preseason. Ousmane Dieng<\/a> was the only player on the Thunder’s 15-man roster to appear in all six preseason games, though Aaron Wiggins<\/a> and Cason Wallace<\/a> saw over 22 minutes in five contests.<\/p>\n

Like Houston, OKC won’t have a full squad tonight, and 2025 first-round selection Thomas Sorber<\/a> (torn ACL) will miss the entire campaign. Nikola Topic<\/a> (Groin), Kenrich Williams<\/a> (knee), Jalen Williams<\/a> (wrist), and Isaiah Joe<\/a> (knee) are sidelined tonight.<\/p>\n

Rockets at Thunder Game Info<\/h3>\n

Time:\u00a0 7:30\u00a0 p.m. Oct. 21, 2025,<\/p>\n

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City<\/p>\n

Money Line: Thunder -240, Rockets +240<\/p>\n

Spread: Thunder -7.5<\/p>\n

Over\/Under: 226.5<\/p>\n

Injuries<\/h4>\n

Rockets<\/h5>\n

Fred VanVleet (torn ACL): Likely out for the season<\/p>\n

Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle): Out tonight with no timetable to return<\/p>\n

Jae’Sean Tate (ankle): Out, may be able to play against Detroit on Friday.<\/p>\n

Isaiah Crawford (ankle): Question for tonight, not part of the Rockets rotation<\/p>\n

Thunder<\/h5>\n

Thomas Sorber (torn ACL): will miss the entire campaign<\/p>\n

Nikola Topic<\/a> (Groin): Out indefinitely while recovering from testicular surgery<\/p>\n

Kenrich Williams<\/a> (knee): Out until at least mid-November.<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams<\/a> (wrist): Out, but should return soon, per ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Isaiah Joe<\/a> (knee): Out after a knee injury on Oct. 12. Unknown timetable, though it is not expected to linger.<\/p>\n

Starting Lineups<\/h5>\n
Houston Rockets<\/h5>\n

Coach Ime Udoka<\/a> revealed on Monday that the <\/a>Rockets’ starting lineup for tonight:<\/p>\n

PG: Amen Thompson<\/a>,<\/p>\n

Wing: Kevin Durant<\/p>\n

Wing: Jabari Smith Jr.<\/p>\n

PF: Alperen \u015eeng\u00fcn<\/a><\/p>\n

C: Steven Adams<\/a><\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder Projected Starters<\/h5>\n

PG: Shai\u00a0Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>
\nSG: Cason Wallace<\/a>
\nSF: Luguentz Dort<\/a>
\nC: Chet Holmgren<\/a>
\nPF: Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a><\/p>\n

Betting Trends<\/h4>\n
Houston Rockets<\/h5>\n