Rockets vs. Nets prediction: Houston to win, Kevin Durant projected for big game in Thursday's NBA matchup [1/1/2026]

The Brooklyn Nets will face the favored Houston Rockets in NBA action at Barclays Center on New Year's Day, beginning at 6:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Rockets as the most likely winner of the Rockets vs. Nets game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Nets lineup will feature stars like Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton, while the Rockets will look to Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

This article offers a closer look at Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Rockets vs. Nets prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NBA game between the Rockets and Nets 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Rockets an 84% chance of beating the Nets. Our predicted final score has the Rockets winning 114-102.

According to our model, the Nets (+13.5) have a 57% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 216.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.

Rockets vs. Nets odds

We have sourced the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Rockets vs. Nets picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Nets +13.5 at the spread.

Rockets vs. Nets player props

NBA player props are a great way to wager on the Rockets vs. Nets game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Barclays Center.

Kevin Durant is expected to lead the Rockets with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Cam Thomas is projected to have 18 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists for the Nets.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Rockets prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Rockets are:

Nets prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Nets:

Rockets vs. Nets game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's action between the Nets and Rockets at Barclays Center is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM ET.

• Who: Houston Rockets vs. Brooklyn Nets
• Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM ET/3:00PM PT
• Venue: Barclays Center

Conclusion

We predict the Rockets, with an 84% win probability, will likely beat the Nets on New Year's Day, with Alperen Sengun projected for a game-high 46 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Rockets vs. Nets insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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