Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, the Houston Rockets secured a victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing the game with a score of 112-106. Tari Eason led the Rockets with a standout performance, scoring a season-best 26 points. Alperen Sengun contributed significantly, achieving a triple-double with 17 points, 11 assists, and 12 rebounds—marking the tenth of his career and second this season. Jabari Smith Jr. was also instrumental for Houston, contributing 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Thunder’s Struggles
The Thunder, playing without their star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to an abdominal strain, struggled but saw solid performances from Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe, who scored 23 and 21 points respectively. This match represented the Thunder’s second game missing Gilgeous-Alexander, who is expected to remain sidelined until after the All-Star break. Adding to their woes, Oklahoma City was also without another key player, Jalen Williams, along with second-year guard Ajay Mitchell.
New Addition and Crowd Reactions
New addition Jared McCain, who joined the Thunder in a trade with Philadelphia, played his first game for the team, receiving a warm welcome from fans as he scored five points in 14 minutes. Notably, during pregame introductions, Kevin Durant, who once played for the Thunder, faced boos from the crowd, a reaction stemming from his controversial departure for the Golden State Warriors nearly a decade ago.
Game Highlights
At halftime, Oklahoma City held a narrow lead of 52-46, with Chet Holmgren contributing 10 points and 10 rebounds. The game was competitive until the end, but the Rockets managed to come away with the win, snapping Oklahoma City’s momentum.
Other Games of the Night
Other games of the night saw the Brooklyn Nets outshine the Washington Wizards 127-113, driven by Michael Porter Jr.‘s 23 points. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle delivered an impressive 40-point triple-double as the Spurs defeated the Mavericks 138-125. In Orlando, the Magic rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Jazz, while the Hornets extended their winning streak with a 126-119 victory over the Hawks. The Denver Nuggets prevailed against the Bulls 136-120, capitalizing on a strong fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Suns 109-103 with key contributions from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
