The Rockets were crushed from the outset on Saturday in Oklahoma City, though rookie guard TyTy Washington scored a career-high 20 points in 25 minutes on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3%). Led by a game-high 42 points from Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, it was just the second win for the Thunder (25-27) in their last seven games versus Houston.
After losing at home Friday to Toronto, it was the second night of a back-to-back for the short-handed Rockets (13-40), who had Eric Gordon and Jae’Sean Tate sitting out for planned maintenance in a staggering 153-121 final (box score). Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot contusion) missed his 12th straight game, as well.
Second-year guard Jalen Green returned from his three-game absence with a right calf contusion but struggled, scoring 12 points on just 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%) and 2-of-8 on 3-pointers (25.0%). Like most of the Rockets, as evidenced by the highest point total in the history of Oklahoma City basketball, he struggled defensively.
Rookie forward Tari Eason added 18 points and 8 rebounds in 25 minutes off the Houston bench on 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), while Josh Christopher continued his strong run of play with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%) and 2-of-2 on 3-pointers over his 28 minutes.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston is a pair of home games versus Sacramento on Monday and Wednesday, with both tipoffs at 7 p.m. Central.
Calvin Murphy (@CalvinMurphyHOF) on @ATTSportsNetSW: “To be honest with you, I’ve not seen the Rockets’ defense this poor in a long time. Here again, OKC was on the top of their game. They were one step ahead of the Rockets right from the very beginning.”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 5, 2023
OKC learned lessons in the loss in Houston and definitely applied those tonight, coming out much more aggressive and physical. Completely different game; Thunder win 153-121.
– SGA: 42-4-6 (in three quarters)
– Giddey: 17-8-10
– Muscala: 19 (5-8 from 3)
– Joe: 18 (5-8 from 3)— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 5, 2023
TyTy Washington has a career-high 20 points on 9-16 shooting in this game. He has used his very effective floater to score repeatedly on drives.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 5, 2023
Daishen Nix the last 3 games:
83 mins, 17 pts 7-25 fg
Ty Ty Washington tonight:
25 mins 20 pts 9-16 fg#rockets— Andrew Houston (@andrewhous10) February 5, 2023
Thunder 153, Rockets 121. Most points Thunder have scored or Rockets have allowed this season. Worst blowout loss for Rockets this season.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 5, 2023
Stephen Silas said he didn’t like the #Rockets fight at all. “You got to step up in these situations and we didn’t do it. We succumbed to ‘back-to-back, three-in-four, no Eric, no Tate’ and all that stuff … we’re talking about winning habits (and) that’s not one.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 5, 2023
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