Key Takeaways:
- Oklahoma City Thunder overpowered the Houston Rockets 111-91 after a commanding fourth-quarter display
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 20 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 18 and Cason Wallace added 17 off the bench
- Despite outrebounding Oklahoma City 60-44, the Rockets struggled with a 33.7% shooting percentage and went over five minutes without scoring late in the game
Match Breakdown
The Oklahoma City Thunder surged past the Houston Rockets in the final period on Thursday night, notching a 111-91 win powered by a 34-16 fourth-quarter run. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guided the Thunder with a 20-point performance, supported by Chet Holmgren’s 18 and a valuable 17 points from Cason Wallace off the bench. Oklahoma City, who entered the contest as the NBA’s leader, collected their fifth consecutive victory.
Houston’s Kevin Durant led his side with 19 points, but struggled from long range, missing all five of his three-point attempts and shooting 7-for-23 overall. The Rockets found little rhythm from deep as they managed just 7-of-24 on three-pointers as a unit.
Road trip started right 🤝 pic.twitter.com/a4FbreIZ3t
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 16, 2026
Decisive Fourth Quarter
Heading into the fourth quarter with a slender two-point lead, Oklahoma City embarked on an 11-2 stretch that included a 3-pointer from Ajay Mitchell and a pair from Wallace, pushing ahead 90-79 with under nine minutes left. The Thunder’s advantage remained at nine points when Mitchell struck again from distance, initiating a crucial 7-0 run. Jaylin Williams punctuated this sequence with a forceful two-handed dunk, prompting a timeout from Houston coach Ime Udoka as spectators began to depart.
During this timeout, Udoka was assessed a technical foul for protesting to officials. Oklahoma City capitalised, with Gilgeous-Alexander converting the technical free throw before adding three more points, and Kenrich Williams draining a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 106-83 as the clock dipped below two minutes. The Rockets endured a lengthy scoring drought of over five minutes, only ended by Reed Sheppard’s late three-pointer.
Statistical Overview
| Statistic | Thunder | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored | 111 | 91 |
| Rebounds | 44 | 60 |
| FG Percentage | 46.1% | 33.7% |
| 3-Point Field Goals | 16/41 | 7/24 |
| Top Scorer | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20) | Kevin Durant (19) |
Previous Encounters and Upcoming Fixtures
This was the second meeting between the two clubs in the current campaign, following a thrilling double-overtime 125-124 Thunder victory in both teams’ season opener.
- Thunder: Scheduled to visit Miami on Saturday night
- Rockets: Set to host Minnesota on Friday night
