Rockets Look to Stay Hot, Thunder Aim to Bounce Back From First Loss
Houston Rockets Look to Keep Rolling, Thunder Eye Bounce Back After First Loss
The Houston Rockets (5-3) will face the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1) on Friday night in a high-stakes Western Conference showdown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Rockets are coming off a dominant 127-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, where they covered the 6.5-point spread, while the Thunder are hoping to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season in a nail-biting 124-122 defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
Houston Rockets: Building Momentum on Both Ends of the Floor
The Houston Rockets head into Friday’s matchup riding a two-game winning streak and a solid 5-3 record, good for a tie atop the Southwest Division with the Dallas Mavericks. After a 127-100 blowout win against San Antonio, the Rockets are gaining confidence. Houston’s offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 56.3% from the field and holding the Spurs to 20 turnovers in the game. Key performances from Jalen Green (21 points) and Fred VanVleet (21 points, 10 assists) helped seal the win, but it was the Rockets’ defense that really shone, limiting San Antonio to just 100 points.
As the season progresses, Jalen Green (22.6 PPG) continues to be the team’s offensive engine, while Fred VanVleet (14.3 PPG, 6.1 APG) has solidified his role as a secondary playmaker. Alperen Sengun is proving to be a key piece in the frontcourt, contributing 16.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. However, for Houston to remain competitive, they’ll need to improve their shooting efficiency (ranked 25th in field goal percentage, 43.7%) and capitalize on their rebounding advantage (5th in the league with 47.3 RPG).
Defensively, the Rockets have been solid, ranking 3rd in the league in scoring defense (106.8 PPG). They will need to carry that momentum forward against the high-powered offense of the Thunder, particularly Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been scorching to start the season.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Rebounding After Tough Loss to Denver
The Oklahoma City Thunder saw their undefeated start to the 2024-25 season come to a halt on Wednesday after a heartbreaker in Denver. Despite leading by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, the Thunder fell short in a 124-122 loss to the Nuggets. Jalen Williams posted a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their first loss of the year.
At 7-1, Oklahoma City remains atop the Northwest Division, and they continue to impress with their two-way game. The Thunder have been exceptional defensively, ranking 1st in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing just 99.4 points per game. They’ll look to carry that defensive prowess into Friday’s contest, particularly against a Rockets team that has shown offensive firepower but has also struggled with consistency at times.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been outstanding, averaging 26.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, and he’ll be key to helping the Thunder bounce back after their first loss. The Thunder’s supporting cast, including Jalen Williams (19.6 PPG), Chet Holmgren (16.9 PPG, 9.8 RPG), and Aaron Wiggins (10.6 PPG), will need to step up to provide scoring depth to match the Rockets’ offensive attack.
Conclusion
The Houston Rockets will aim to extend their winning streak against a Thunder team looking to shake off their first loss. While Oklahoma City boasts a stronger defensive record, Houston’s high-powered offense and rebounding edge could give them the upper hand. Expect a close contest, but with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, Oklahoma City should have enough firepower to rebound from their tough loss and get back on track at home.
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