The Houston Rockets prevail (2-1), dominating the Brooklyn Nets (0-4) in a 137-109 win.

The Houston Rockets came into Monday night’s matchup with something to prove. After opening the season 0–2, it was clear that tonight was about redemption. Facing a winless Brooklyn Nets team on tired legs, Houston finally looked like the team fans expected to see. The Rockets were sharp, dominant, and in control from start to finish.

From the jump, the Rockets brought energy. Josh Okogie started for the first time this season and immediately set the tone defensively, while Steven Adams came off the bench and brought his usual muscle inside the paint. 

Houston’s intensity on defense was the difference early. They rarely allowed Brooklyn a go at second-chance shots and forced them into sloppy turnovers. By the end of the first quarter, Houston had already built a 20-point lead.

Tari Eason had his best half in a Rockets uniform, dropping 13 points and pulling down five rebounds before halftime- a career high for him in the first half. The ball movement looked cleaner than in either of the previous two games, and the Rockets stayed aggressive without losing control. 

Okogie and Adams shut down multiple Brooklyn possessions, and Durant looked smooth and unbothered. At halftime, Houston led 84-62- their biggest lead of the season- while shooting 56-percent from the field and almost 40-percent from deep.

The third quarter had a different rhythm- slower, choppier, and filled with whistles, reminiscent of the Detroit game on Saturday night. Durant earned a fourth foul late in the quarter and was benched, but Houston didn’t lose its composure. Ime Udoka went deeper into the rotation, and the young guys delivered.

Reed Sheppard came off the bench and made an instant impact with back-to-back threes, a steal, and a one-handed dunk, pushing the lead to 25. Şengün and Amen Thompson showed great chemistry during that stretch, keeping the offense fluid even without Durant on the floor.

The Nets’ travel fatigue showed, and outside of Cam Thomas, no one could keep up with Houston’s tempo. Nic Claxton was overpowered inside, and Terance Mann couldn’t slow down Houston’s wings. The Rockets’ length disrupted Brooklyn’s spacing, and by the fourth quarter, it felt like the game was over.

The Rockets’ bench was all smiles- a total 180 from Saturday night’s frustration. Every single Rocket who got playtime scored. Sheppard finished with 11 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Okogie helped close it out alongside Şengün.

By the buzzer, Houston’s performance felt like a total reset- the exact kind of statement they needed after a frustrating opening week. The defense clicked, the bench delivered, and the energy stayed consistent from the opening tip.

The Rockets looked like the team the franchise envisioned when signing Durant. They were focused, physical, and confident. If this is the version of the Rockets fans can expect moving forward, that early pressure may have been exactly what Houston needed.