Rockets' second-ranked offense meets a Thunder team missing six

The Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1) and their fifth-ranked defense visit the Houston Rockets (5-1) and the NBA's second-best offense on Saturday, October 31, at 8:30 PM ET, with six Thunder players out.

Houston scores 118.9 points per 100 possessions and shoots 56.6% effective from the field, fifth in the league. Oklahoma City allows 103.5 per 100 and holds opponents to 50.1% effective shooting, sixth best.

The Rockets also rebound 33.2% of their misses, second in the league, while the Thunder clear 71.4% of opponents' misses, 18th. Second chances are where Houston can pull away.

Oklahoma City's offense is the weak side. Its rating of 107.1 is 22nd, and its effective shooting of 49.5% is 27th. Houston's defense, at 108.1, ranks 12th, so the Thunder have room to score but little reason to expect it.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carries the Thunder's scoring at 26 points a game and shoots 87.5% from the line. Isaiah Hartenstein adds 9.6 rebounds. For Houston, Alperen Sengun averages 24.5 points and seven assists.

Sengun, day-to-day, is expected back Saturday, as is guard Reed Sheppard. Center Steven Adams is out until Monday, November 2.

Oklahoma City is far thinner. Chet Holmgren (expected back Saturday, January 2) and Jalen Williams (Tuesday, March 2) are among six players out, along with Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber.

Both teams lost their last game to Dallas, the Thunder 120-96 and the Rockets 116-111. Houston had won its previous five, Oklahoma City its previous four.

Sportsbooks' prices give the Rockets a 57.6% chance to win, and Keel's projection, built from the players available, puts it at 62.5%.