Houston establishes early control
The Houston Rockets opened the door wide for their fans on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by exploding for 33 points in the opening period while holding the Oklahoma City Thunder to just 15. The lopsided start at Toyota Center set the tone for a dominant performance that saw Houston cruise to a 116-89 victory over the visiting Thunder.
Houston’s offensive efficiency was evident from the tip-off. Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun orchestrated the early attack, with Thompson recording multiple dunks assisted by both Sengun and Fred VanVleet. The Rockets built a double-digit lead midway through the quarter, fueled by three-pointers from Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard.
Despite Kevin Durant hitting a fadeaway jumper to keep Oklahoma City within striking distance briefly, Houston’s depth proved too much, as they ended the first period with a commanding 33-15 advantage.
Second half defense stifles Thunder offense
The Thunder managed to stabilize in the second quarter, outscoring Houston 32-21 in the period to cut the deficit. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City’s efforts with 18 points, including a pair of three-pointers and driving layups. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 3 assists but struggled to find his rhythm offensively against Houston’s perimeter defense.
However, the Rockets’ defense clamped down in the second half. Bogdan Bogdanovic emerged as the primary offensive threat for Houston, scoring 15 points, including several crucial jump shots. His performance was complemented by Fred VanVleet, who distributed the ball effectively with 8 assists, and Alperen Sengun, who controlled the glass with 7 rebounds.
