After coming up empty in their first two meetings, the Houston Rockets finally cracked the Oklahoma City Thunder on the third attempt, pulling out a 112-106 win in a game that felt tighter than the box score suggests. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined, Houston took advantage early, leaned on its stars late, and survived a handful of Thunder pushes to secure one of their more complete wins of the season.
Alperen Sengun was the engine all night, stuffing the stat sheet and controlling the tempo, while Houston’s supporting cast made just enough timely plays to keep Oklahoma City at arm’s length. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was effective – and sometimes that’s all that matters.
1. Alperen Sengun Controlled The Game From Start To Finish
This one belonged to Alperen Sengun. The big man finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, posting a triple-double that felt even more impactful than the raw numbers show. He was patient in the post, decisive as a passer, and consistently punished the Thunder whenever they overcommitted defensively. Oklahoma City threw different looks at him, but none slowed him down for long.
What stood out most was Sengun’s feel for the moment. When Houston needed a bucket, he scored. When shooters needed rhythm, he found them. His +13 plus-minus tells part of the story, but the real impact came in the fourth quarter, where he orchestrated multiple half-court possessions that bled the clock and kept OKC from building momentum.
2. Kevin Durant’s Shot-Making Gave Houston A Safety
Kevin Durant didn’t dominate the ball, but he delivered exactly what Houston needed from him. In 40 minutes, Durant poured in 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting, knocking down two threes and getting to the line nine times. When the Thunder threatened runs, Durant calmly answered – no rush, no wasted motion.
Durant also chipped in defensively, grabbing four rebounds and recording both a steal and a block. His presence alone warped Oklahoma City’s coverage, creating space for Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. to operate. Even on a relatively quiet scoring night by his standards, Durant’s efficiency and composure mattered.
3. Jabari Smith Jr. And Tari Eason Did The Dirty Work
Smith Jr. had a huge night as he dropped 22 and grabbed 10 boards, going 3-3 from 3 and 9-11 from the charity stripe. His performances helped the team stay active and competitive in a rebounding battle.
Eason had also brought in his usual energy, scoring 26 points and having 5 3’s in addition to 3 steals. Eason’s energy helped the team swing from a deficit to a positive in the 3rd and helped the team get shot rolling once Oklahoma City had a brief lead.
4. Thunder Missed Shai, But Young Guards Showed Fight
With Shai out, Cason Wallace stood out with 23 points and 10-16 from the field while being very active defensively with 4 steals. He was aggressive and made big plays to finish out the game.
Isaiah Joe brought in 21 points off the bench, including 8 perfect free throws, and kept OKC in striking distance in the fourth quarter. Despite Joe’s performance, OKC’s need for a reliable closer in the clutch was apparent. OKC could generate offensive looks, but when the Rockets showed increased intensity, OKC’s shot selection worsened.
5. Turnovers And Free Throws Made The Difference
The margins were thin, but Houston executed better in the areas that usually decide close games. The Rockets committed fewer turnovers (15 to 17) and did far more damage when forcing mistakes, outscoring the Thunder 27-15 in points off turnovers.
Free throws were another separator. Houston knocked down 21 of 28, while Oklahoma City left points on the table at 18 of 28. In a six-point game, those misses loom large. Add in Houston’s five blocks and timely defensive plays down the stretch, and the formula for this win becomes pretty clear.
