Undermanned Thunder Fall to Rockets as Houston Takes Advantage in Second Half Surge
The Oklahoma City Thunder came into Saturday afternoon’s matchup against the Houston Rockets missing more than just a few pieces-they were without their entire offensive core. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell all sidelined, OKC was forced to dig deep into its rotation. And while the effort was there, the firepower wasn’t quite enough, as the Thunder dropped a tightly contested game, 112-106.
Let’s start with the obvious: when you’re missing your top three offensive engines, you’re going to feel it on both ends of the floor. That was the case for Oklahoma City, who came out swinging in the first half but couldn’t sustain the momentum after the break. The Thunder’s offense cooled off, and their defense couldn’t hold the line, giving up 66 second-half points to a Rockets team that found its rhythm when it mattered most.
Still, there were bright spots for OKC. Rookie guard Cason Wallace continues to show he’s more than just a role player-he dropped 23 points in another breakout performance.
Isaiah Joe added 21, knocking down shots with confidence. Chet Holmgren put together a double-double with 17 points and 14 boards, showing once again that his impact goes beyond the box score.
Aaron Wiggins also chipped in 17, but beyond those four, the offensive production fell off a cliff. No other Thunder player scored more than eight.
And that’s the challenge for this team right now. With no clear timeline for the return of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, or Mitchell before the All-Star break, OKC is going to have to rely on its depth-and that’s a tall order in a Western Conference that doesn’t offer many nights off.
On the other side, Houston took care of business. Tari Eason led the way with 26 points, providing the kind of energy and scoring punch that tilted the game in the Rockets’ favor.
Kevin Durant was held in check with just 20 points-credit to OKC’s defensive schemes for that-but Jabari Smith Jr. stepped up with a strong 22-point effort. Only seven Rockets found the scoring column, but it was a balanced, timely attack.
When Houston needed a bucket, someone delivered.
This wasn’t a blowout by any stretch-it was a hard-fought game between two young, competitive teams. But in the end, the Rockets simply had more available weapons.
For the Thunder, the focus now shifts to weathering the storm. They’ve proven they can compete with anyone when healthy, but until their stars return, they’ll need more nights like this from Wallace, Joe, and Holmgren-and a few unexpected contributions from the rest of the bench.
The All-Star break can’t come soon enough for Oklahoma City.