The Houston Rockets get the chance to formally signal their arrival when they play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals of the NBA Cup on Saturday.

These aren’t Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets, but the franchise has been building, and winning the NBA Cup would be a big deal. They have to beat the Western Conference-best Thunder to reach the final where either the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks will await.

There is a big showdown in the college hoops world as No. 8 Gonzaga and two-time defending champion UConn battle in New York. The No. 18 Huskies appear to be back in form after that disastrous 0-3 showing in Maui in late November.

The regular-season finale between Army and Navy is one to watch. We’ll look at that game and the above two basketball contests.

HOUSTON ROCKETS AT OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Houston is rising fast with Ime Udoka as coach, an emerging star in guard Jalen Green, and a stellar inside force in Alperen Sengun. The Rockets are 17-8 and just beat the Golden State Warriors in the West semis.

Green averages 19.2 points, and Sengun contributes 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. Five other players—including two reserves—are averaging more than 11 points per game. Dillon Brooks (12.6 points per game) is battling an illness and might not be at full energy. Meaning no unnecessary hard fouls.

Oklahoma City has won four straight games and eight of its past nine. The Thunder are rolling with an average winning margin of 22 during the four-game win streak. Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making scoring look easy by pouring in 30 or more in nine of the past 11 games.

These teams split two games earlier this season, with Fred VanVleet scoring 38 in Houston’s win while SGA put up 29 in the Thunder’s win and 32 in the loss. Expect the Thunder to take this one.

Thunder -5.5 spread, -108 (DraftKings)

GONZAGA BULLDOGS AT UCONN HUSKIES

Losing three games in three days wasn’t an enjoyable time for UConn coach Dan Hurley, and he apparently denounces what people say about his squad. Let’s face it, these Huskies aren’t as good as the last two editions, but they still have a Sweet 16-type squad. Oh, sorry, Dan, let me put the shovel down.

“Maybe the people with the shovels and the dirt, maybe they were too quick to grab the shovel and throw the dirt on us,” Hurley said recently. 

Moving forward, Alex Karaban is becoming the star attraction for UConn, which took down Baylor and Texas among three straight wins since returning from Maui.

This is the second straight showdown for the Zags, who blew an 18-point lead last week before succumbing to Kentucky in overtime. Gonzaga’s other loss (to West Virginia) also was in OT, so expect coach Mark Few to implore his troops to settle the game in regulation. 

UConn beat the Bulldogs in Seattle last season, and it’s still impossible to forget that 82-54 beatdown the Huskies put on Gonzaga in the Elite Eight of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. That day, it was Hurley shoveling the dirt on a battered team.

UConn +2 spread, -112 (DraftKings)

NAVY MIDSHIPMEN VS. ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS

The two service academies battling for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy have a combined 19 wins. Army’s 11 victories are a school record, and both teams are headed to bowl games—Army to the Independence to meet Marshall and Navy to the Armed Forces to face Oklahoma.

Army quarterback Bryson Daily finished sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting and has rushed for 1,480 yards and 29 touchdowns. The TDs are tied with Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty of Boise State for the national lead. As an occasional passer, Daily has 877 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.

You suppose Navy could put 10 men in the box all game long and dare Dailey to throw, but it probably doesn’t matter considering Daily has 10 straight 100-yard rushing performances when everyone knows he’s not going to throw. The Midshipmen can score as they topped 30 seven times. But they only scored 24 points total in their three setbacks.

Lots of bragging rights here, but the Daily Show will be the story. 

Bryson Daily to amass 150-plus rushing yards and two-plus touchdowns, +195 (DraftKings)