NBA: Thunder break open tight game in 4th, take down Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder continued their strong run on Thursday, defeating the Houston Rockets 111-91 on the road to extend their winning streak to five games.

Chet Holmgren led the charge with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots, while Ajay Mitchell added 17 points off the bench. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points, marking his 111th consecutive game with 20 or more points. Holmgren and Mitchell combined to shoot an impressive 14-for-19, including 5-for-7 from beyond the arc.

The Thunder took control in the fourth quarter with their sharp 3-point shooting. Trailing 77-75 entering the final period, Mitchell and Cason Wallace hit consecutive threes to put Oklahoma City ahead 88-79. After a Houston timeout, Kenrich Williams drained a pull-up jumper to give the Thunder their first double-digit lead at 90-79 with just over nine minutes remaining.

Luguentz Dort contributed 13 points and three 3-pointers as the Thunder finished 16-for-41 from three-point range. The Rockets, on the other hand, missed 17 of 24 attempts from deep, ending their seven-game home winning streak.

Kevin Durant led Houston with 19 points on 7-for-23 shooting. Jabari Smith Jr. added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 boards. Smith and Sengun combined to shoot 12-for-30.

Holmgren set the tone early, scoring 11 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting in the first quarter while grabbing three rebounds. Defensively, the Thunder limited Houston to 28.6% shooting in the opening period, taking a 21-19 lead.

Houston found some offensive rhythm in the second quarter but could not overtake the Thunder. Durant’s free throws tied the game at 36-all, but Gilgeous-Alexander responded with a three-point play, a spinning layup, and an assist to Dort for a three-pointer, helping Oklahoma City build a 47-38 lead. He capped the half with a buzzer-beating three to give the Thunder a 55-48 advantage at halftime.

The win highlighted Oklahoma City’s balanced attack and defensive intensity, keeping the Rockets at bay throughout the game.

—Field Level Media/Reuters