The set-up: Houston comes to town winner of six straight. Most recently the Rockets beat these very Thunder here 136-106 on Monday night. That total went "over" the number, but I think today's contest sets up as more of a defensive affair. OKC will be eager to atone for its poor defensive performance at home last time out and to avoid a three-game slide. In fact, OKC has lost three of the last four in this series, so I expect a much more intense effort from the home side, especially on the defensive end.

The pick: The Rockets have sure been great since the James Harden trade, but with a game at Memphis tomorrow night, I think the visiting side also gets caught "looking ahead" here. Finally note that the Rockets have seen the total go "under" in ten of their last 13 after five or more SU victories in a row. The value on the total has swung to the "under" in the second game of this two-game mini-series.

This is a 10* TOTAL COACH'S CORNER on the UNDER Rockets/Thunder.