HOUSTON — In a rematch of the Oct. 21 regular-season opener, the Rockets were nowhere near as good offensively in Thursday’s 111-91 loss (box score) to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder (35-7) had won the aforementioned opener in Oklahoma City, 125-124, in double overtime.
In Thursday’s return visit, the Rockets (23-15) lost for just the second time in their last 14 home games. After trailing by only two points entering the fourth quarter, Houston scored just eight points in the first 10 minutes as Oklahoma City pulled away.
The Thunder own by far the NBA’s best defensive rating, and efficiency numbers were down across the board for the Rockets. Individual statistics included:
- Kevin Durant: 19 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, 3 assists; 7-of-23 shooting (30.4%), 0-of-5 on 3-pointers
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 turnovers; 5-of-15 shooting (33.3%), 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%), 4-of-4 on free throws
- Alperen Sengun: 14 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists; 5 turnovers; 7-of-15 shooting (46.7%)
- Amen Thompson: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals; 4-of-16 shooting (25.0%), 5-of-8 on free throws (62.5%)
- Josh Okogie: 5 points, 5 rebounds; 2-of-6 shooting (33.3%), 1-of-3 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
- JD Davison: 5 points, 1 assists; 2-of-9 shooting (22.2%), 1-of-5 on 3-pointers (20.0%)
- Reed Sheppard: 7 points, 3 assists; 3-of-10 shooting (30.0%), 1-of-3 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
- Steven Adams: 6 points, 11 rebounds (6 offensive); 3-of-6 shooting (50.0%)
Overall, Houston made just 35-of-104 shots (33.7%) and 7-of-24 from 3-point range (29.2%).
The Thunder were much cleaner, shooting 41-of-89 overall (46.1%) and 16-of-41 from 3-point range (39.0%). Though Houston out-rebounded Oklahoma City, 60-44, the efficiency gap proved far too much to overcome.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 20 points and 4 assists while making 6-of-11 shots (54.5%) and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line (87.5%).
Off the bench, reserve guard AJ Mitchell added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while making 7-of-10 shots (70.0%) and 3-of-4 from 3-point range (75.0%). Several of those buckets came at the expense of Sheppard.
Next up for the Rockets is night two of a home back-to-back at Toyota Cener, where the Timberwolves (27-14) will visit on Friday night. The Houston-Minnesota tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised on both ESPN and Space City Home Network.
Rockets and Thunder generated almost identical quality shots (45% expected FG%)
Thunder made their expected FG%. Rockets shot 10% worse than expected
Rockets won the possession game and had 10 more shots but made 6 less field goals pic.twitter.com/VKgo8RRFGo
— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) January 16, 2026
Kevin Durant hasn’t taken 23+ shots and made as few as seven since 2010.
Has only happened twice before in his career (Nov. 2010 + Jan. 2008)
1. That’s crazy
2. A credit to OKC’s defense@KDTrey5 talks Thunder’s “swarming” defense, put plenty of blame on himself.“I feel… pic.twitter.com/RGoMRvP1xl
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) January 16, 2026
Alperen Şengün vs. Chet Holmgren was among the most interesting parts of tonight. Alperen is incredibly skilled. He’s a terrific talent. He’s also a few inches shorter than Chet Holmgren.
Here’s @HoustonRockets big man on challenge of facing Holmgren:
“He’s tall, there’s a lot… pic.twitter.com/if5cNTblVl
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) January 16, 2026
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Thunder 111, Rockets 91: Defending champs silence Houston’s offense
