Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Houston Rockets 111-91 on Thursday night, showcasing their prowess in the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 20 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 18. The Thunder's bench was equally impressive, with Cason Wallace scoring 17 points. The team's strong performance in the final quarter, outscoring Houston 34-16, secured their fifth consecutive victory.
Kevin Durant, the Rockets' leading scorer, had a disappointing night, making only 7 out of 23 shots, including a poor 0 for 5 on 3-pointers. The Rockets' shooting woes were evident, as they made just 7 out of 24 shots from beyond the arc. The Thunder, however, showcased their shooting accuracy, making 16 out of 41 3-pointers.
The game's turning point came in the fourth quarter. The Thunder took a two-point lead early before embarking on an 11-2 run, fueled by Ajay Mitchell's 3-pointer and Cason Wallace's two successful shots. This surge extended their lead to 90-79 with under nine minutes to play. Oklahoma City maintained a nine-point advantage later in the quarter, thanks to Mitchell's another 3-pointer, which sparked a 7-0 run, making the score 99-83 with four minutes remaining. Jaylin Williams sealed the deal with a spectacular two-handed dunk, prompting Houston coach Ime Udoka to call a timeout as fans began to leave.
Udoka's frustration led to a technical foul for arguing with officials. The Thunder capitalized on this moment, extending their lead to 14-0. Gilgeous-Alexander converted the technical free throw and added three more in the next few minutes. Kenrich Williams' 3-pointer made it 106-83 with two minutes left. By the time Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer, the Rockets had gone over five minutes without a score.
This was the second meeting between the teams this season, with Oklahoma City securing a thrilling 125-124 double-overtime victory in the season opener. Despite the Rockets' better rebounding (60-44), their poor shooting percentage (33.7%) was their downfall. The Thunder's superior shooting accuracy (46.1%) and 3-point success rate (16 out of 41) proved to be the deciding factors.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the Miami Heat on Saturday night, while the Rockets will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
