The Houston Rockets weren’t bothered by facing an Oklahoma City team without their top player, All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After a hard-fought win in one of the league’s toughest arenas, the Rockets celebrated loudly in the locker room.
Jalen Green led the charge with 37 points as Houston extended their winning streak to 10 games, beating the Thunder 132-126 in overtime on Wednesday night. “It was a wild scene,” Green said. “Everyone was thrilled, cheering, and screaming. We had to work for that one.”
Coach Ime Udoka emphasized the importance of stringing together wins. “Ten wins in a row is a significant achievement, regardless of Shai’s absence,” Udoka remarked. “But winning consistently in the NBA is tough. The guys should be proud of their effort; they’ve earned it.”
Amen Thompson contributed with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks chipped in 20 points for the Rockets.
Despite missing Gilgeous-Alexander, who was sidelined with a thigh injury, the Thunder put up a fight. Josh Giddey matched his career-high with 31 points, coming off a strong performance the previous night. Jalen Williams added 23 points and 10 assists for Oklahoma City, who trailed the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets by just half a game.
Coach Mark Daigneault refused to make excuses for the loss, stressing the importance of accountability. “We need to focus on what we can control,” Daigneault said. “We don’t want to attribute a loss to luck or other factors. It’s about taking responsibility for our performance, win or lose.”
The closing minutes of regulation were chaotic, with both teams exchanging leads. Giddey made a remarkable shot while sitting on the floor, giving the Thunder a one-point lead. Williams hit a clutch 3-pointer to force overtime, where the Rockets eventually prevailed.
“It was crucial when Dillon hit those two early threes,” Udoka noted. “Then our defense stepped up, sealing the win in overtime.” The game had an unexpected start as confetti from a previous event fell onto the court just before tip-off.
Despite trailing by double digits early on, the Thunder fought back to take the lead at halftime. They maintained their advantage heading into the final quarter.
