The Houston Rockets battled for three quarters, but missed shots and a fourth-quarter collapse sealed their fate against the Oklahoma City Thunder's relentless offense.
Thursday night in Houston, the Rockets slid to 23-15 after a fourth-quarter unraveling against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who advanced to 35-7. The final score (111-91) won’t tell you how close this game actually was or how abruptly it slipped away.
For three quarters, Houston went punch-for-punch with Oklahoma City, absorbing pressure, surviving ugly stretches, and controlling the glass. The Rockets stayed within striking distance despite shooting issues that never really went away. Then the fourth quarter arrived, and the math finally caught up.
Through three quarters, Houston did a lot of the things that normally keep them alive. They won the paint battle (44-42). They crushed the glass, finishing with 23 offensive rebounds to the Thunder’s seven and a staggering 60 total boards.
Amen Thompson and Steven Adams turned missed shots into extended possessions, and Alperen Şengün held his ground inside against one of the league’s most disruptive frontcourts.
But there’s a limit to how long extra chances can mask missed shots.
Houston finished the night shooting 33.7-percent from the field and 29.2-percent from three. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, hit 16 threes at a 39-percent clip and saved their best stretch for when the game was still hanging in the balance.
After entering the final frame trailing by a single bucket, Houston scored just 16 points in the quarter, while Oklahoma City posted 34. The Thunder stretched the lead with pace, spacing, and shotmaking, while Houston’s offense stalled into isolation and late-clock looks.
Kevin Durant couldn’t pull them out of it this time. He finished with 19 points, but went 0-for-5 from deep.Jabari Smith Jr. knocked down three triples and finished with 17, but turnovers and missed opportunities tarnished his impact. Şengün posted a double-double, but the Thunder’s speed on the perimeter limited how often Houston could play through him cleanly.
The most telling number on the night might not be the shooting percentages- it’s the bench gap.
Oklahoma City got 49 bench points to Houston’s mere 23.
That’s where the game broke open. Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe punished breakdowns, hit timely shots, and kept the floor spread when the starters rested. Houston’s second unit brought energy and effort, but couldn’t generate consistent offense once the game tilted.
Houston played their brand for most of the night. The Rockets defended, rebounded, forced turnovers, and stayed connected. They just couldn’t cash in when it mattered- and against the Oklahoma City Thunder, that window closes fast.
The margin for error against elite teams is thin. But on nights like this, it disappears entirely.