The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on Tuesday night with an intriguing Western Conference showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
After winning the franchise’s first NBA title in June, the Thunder will receive their championship rings and raise a banner to the rafters of Paycom Center before the game.
OKC icon Kevin Durant will be one of the onlookers from the visiting sideline, as the long-time Thunder star will make his Houston Rockets debut after being traded by the Phoenix Suns this offseason.
Below, I’ll dive into my Rockets vs Thunder predictions for NBA Opening Night.
Rockets vs Thunder Opening Night Odds
NBA odds used for these Rockets vs Thunder Opening Night best bets are current as of Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 10:30 a.m. ET and are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Rockets (+230) • Thunder (-285)
- Spread: Rockets +6.5 (-105) • Thunder -6.5 (-115)
- Total Points: Over 228.5 (-105) • Under 228.5 (-115)
Rockets vs Thunder Opening Night Prediction
Thunder 125, Rockets 109
I don’t see the Thunder losing at home on banner night.
Oklahoma City returns much of the same roster that went 68-14 last season and only lost seven playoff games en route to winning the NBA title.
While the Thunder will be without standout guard Jaylen Williams, who continues to recover from offseason wrist surgery, this team has more than enough depth to account for that loss.
Plus, OKC should have more continuity than a Houston team that could still be figuring things out. Second-year point guard Reed Sheppard could make his fourth career start, as the Rockets try to replace Fred VanVleet, who suffered a torn ACL this offseason.
Houston will also be adjusting to playing with a ball-dominant forward like Durant, which will take some time.
Expect the celebrations to continue long into the night in Oklahoma City.
Rockets vs Thunder Opening Night Best Bets
Thunder -6.5 (-115)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The Thunder went 35-6 at Paycom Center last season, including three wins over the Rockets by margins of at least nine points.
Oklahoma City was also the league’s top team against the spread, covering the number in 68% of its regular-season games.
While Williams is a big miss, the Thunder still have reigning NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 32.7 points per game last season.
I’m backing the hosts to win by at least seven points as my NBA bet of the day.
Over 228.5 Points (-105)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
The Thunder and Rockets ranked in the NBA’s top five in defensive efficiency last season, but it rarely mattered when they squared off in head-to-head matchups.
Four of the five meetings between these teams last season cleared this points total, with the only exception being an NBA Cup semifinal contest that carried additional meaning and featured a playoff-like intensity.
I don’t expect that to be the case on Tuesday night, so I’ll side with the Over.
