Oklahoma City, OK – The Thunder are home for one night before they hit the road for a four game stint starting Thursday. They welcome the Rockets after ending a five game losing streak in Houston on Sunday night as they look to win their sixth straight game.
Just like Sunday’s game against Houston, the Thunder would need to start this game with a lot of energy on both ends of the floor and not give the Rockets any life like they did in the last game.
It was a very similar start to the previous game. The Thunder did come out with more physicality but the Rockets were a little too comfortable in the opening quarter with the Thunder playing a little inconsistent on the defensive end. OKC did a pretty good job of responding with getting decent looks though.
And just like the game on Sunday, the Thunder had issues with the three point line early on only hitting 2-10 in the first quarter while the Rockets hit 5-11 of theirs in the quarter.
That all pretty much changed in the second quarter with the Thunder being much more active on the defensive end of the floor. They did a much better job of getting the the Rockets shooters. They were extremely disruptive getting deflections and turnovers. They had the physicality to go with it also.
They had full control of the game going into the half and once they grab control in a game it’s hard for anyone to get it back from them. The Rockets made a push in the third with much better defense getting within three but the Thunder were just too much. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closed the third quarter with dominance and then the Thunder opened the fourth with dominance.
Using an extended 23-9 run between the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters, Thunder went up by as much as 20, the Thunder pulled away and never looked back. Picking up their sixth straight win with a 112-95 victory.
Here are the reasons for the win
Defense
Anytime a team can hold another team under 110 in today’s NBA, they played some really good defense. Anytime a team is held under 100, it was some phenomenal defense.
It looked like the Rockets were going to have another night shooting well from three and the Thunder adjusted to that well. Rockets shot 5-11 in the opening quarter and after that shot 4-28. The Thunder were extremely active in the passing lanes and made things extremely tough for the Rockets.
The Thunder held the Rockets to 38.9% from the floor and 23.1% from 3. Doing that after playing the same team twice in three nights. They played as a unit on that end of the floor and it really frustrated the Rockets to where it hampered everything they were trying to do.
Physicality
Sunday night, the Rockets brought the physicality to the Thunder and it showed. Thunder got down by as much as 16 and had to adjust to not only the way the Rockets were playing but also the way the refs were calling the game due to the way the Rockets were playing.
Tonight was a different night. The Thunder were the aggressors physically on both ends of the floor. Making the game nasty enough to make the Rockets uncomfortable but not too nasty where they themselves were uncomfortable.
This is where their poise really showed also. When things get physical, they can go one of a few ways. The other team can get more physical to match the physicality, the other team tries to get more physical and get out of character making things chippy, or the other team doesn’t try to get more physical and just complain to the refs most of the night.
The Rockets chose the complaining route while the Thunder stayed poised and continued to play within character.
Talent
There is a saying that goes, “hardworking beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” It’s a really true saying because a very talented team can lose on any given night if they aren’t playing hard enough.
When that more talented team is playing hard though, they’re pretty much unbeatable. Sometimes, just having the more talented team is enough. Tonight felt like one of those night’s. Times when the game was getting ugly, the Thunder used their talent to take over. Whether it was Shai, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, or them as a collective, they were just more talented than the Rockets.
It really showed at times and with the way they were playing physically and defensively, the Rockets really had no chance.
The Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who had his league leading 43rd 30 point game with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jalen Williams was great adding 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while Chet Holmgren added 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Josh Giddey had another solid game against the Rockets and set the tone with his 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Next up for the Thunder, they will hit the road starting Thursday night in San Antonio for a four game road trip.
