Best bets for Thursday, Jan. 15
Flyers vs. Penguins and Thunder vs. Rockets headline tonight's must-watch games
Two of the best teams the Western Conference has to offer square off as the 34-7 Thunder head to Texas for a battle with the 23-14 Rockets. Houston is trying to make a move up the standings in Kevin Durant's first year with the team, and the legendary forward is averaging 26.1 points per game and has scored 28 or more points in four of his last six contests. He now faces his former team in the Thunder, and they finally knocked off the Spurs, who handed OKC three of its seven losses this season. The Thunder are winners of four in a row and eight of their last 10. Houston has won six of its last 10 and is coming off a 119-113 win over Chicago. The our website Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has Houston covering in 68% of its simulations.
Thursday also features a big Eastern Conference tilt on the ice between the Flyers and Penguins as both teams are aiming to get moving in the right direction amid recent struggles. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are neck and neck in the Metropolitan Division as each team tries to move up the standings and catch the first-place Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins are trying to get back on track after losing three in a row, while the Flyers have dropped four in a row. The our website model is backing the Penguins on the money line as the home team wins in 70% of simulations.
