OKLAHOMA CITY — In an exciting match-up on Friday evening, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 29 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a commanding 126-107 victory over the Houston Rockets.
This win marks a strong start to a six-game homestand for Oklahoma City, who bounced back nicely after experiencing their first loss of the season against Denver just two nights prior.
Gilgeous-Alexander was red-hot, making 10 of his first 11 attempts from the field without attempting a three-pointer until his 13th shot. His first three-pointer contributed significantly to the Thunder’s lead, extending it to 96-73 in the third quarter.
Holmgren also delivered a solid performance, connecting on 8 of 14 shots while hitting 4 out of 6 attempts from beyond the arc. The Thunder, now sitting at 8-1, successfully turned the tide after a first quarter that ended in a 31-point tie.
While Oklahoma City’s offensive play had been erratic in the early part of the season, they found their rhythm in this matchup, achieving a shooting percentage of 51.1% and hitting 20 of their 23 free throw attempts.
Dillon Brooks had a decent outing for the Rockets, contributing 17 points, though the team struggled overall with a shooting percentage of just 43.3%.
In terms of performance highlights, the Thunder showcased their league-leading defensive capabilities, effectively neutralizing Houston’s leading scorers, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. Green managed to score 14 points, but with a shooting percentage of only 35.7%, while Sengun was limited to 11 points with a 25% shooting effort.
Oklahoma City’s depth proved advantageous during the game, specifically exemplified by Holmgren’s dominance on both sides of the court. The towering 7-footer was particularly effective, registering three blocks and impacting Houston’s shooting attempts near the basket.
A pivotal moment occurred early in the second quarter when Aaron Wiggins of the Thunder hit a crucial three-pointer to break the tie at 31. Following that shot, Oklahoma City took control of the game, outscoring the Rockets 41-20 for the remainder of the quarter, culminating in a halftime score of 75-51, which was their highest point total for a half this season.
Statistically speaking, the first half was impressive for the Thunder, as they shot 61.9% from the field and an impressive 52.9% from three-point range.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are scheduled to visit Detroit this coming Sunday, while the Thunder will face off against Golden State on the same night.