Hey guys, I've been thinking about the Rockets vs Thunder matchup for their season opener on Tuesday night. As a huge OKC fan, I'm excited to see how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander performs after an MVP season.

The thing that's got me leaning towards fading SGA is the tough Houston Rockets defense. They lost Dillon Brooks in the offseason, but they still have one of the best defensive lineups in the league. Amen Thompson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Tari Eason are all elite defenders who will look to contain SGA.

SGA has been a relatively slow starter in previous season openers, averaging 24.3 points per game. He's also scored Under 31.5 points in six of his last seven season openers. I think the Rockets' defense will be able to limit him to under 31.5 points.

I'm also expecting both centers to have productive nights - Chet Holmgren and Alperen Sengun are both elite big men who will help their teams rebound and defend. The Rockets vs Thunder same-game parlay is looking like a solid bet, with all three of these picks having good value.

One thing that's worth noting is that SGA has been hot from 3-point range in the past, averaging 2.3 makes per game last season. He'll still have his magic touch from beyond the arc on opening night, but I think he'll be more focused on getting the win than trying to take over the game.

Overall, I'm taking the Under on SGA's points total and expecting a low-scoring game between these two teams.