HOUSTON — In a frontcourt duel between top picks from the 2022 NBA draft, Chet Holmgren of the Thunder and Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets put on quite a show Sunday at Toyota Center. But thanks in large part to Holmgren’s fourth-quarter flurry, Oklahoma City (40-17) maintained its position at the top of the Western Conference and rallied to a 123-110 road victory (box score).
Holmgren finished with 29 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks, shooting 11-of-16 from the field (68.8%) and 5-of-8 on 3-pointers (62.5%). For the No. 2 overall pick of the 2022 first round, his 19 fourth-quarter points set a Thunder rookie record (Holmgren is considered a rookie because he sat out last season due to injury).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an emerging MVP candidate, led the Thunder in scoring with 36 points while making 13-of-23 shots (56.5%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), and 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%).
Yet, the Rockets (25-32) were competitive most of the way thanks to a strong night from Smith, drafted one slot behind Holmgren at No. 3 in 2022. After sparking Houston’s victory Friday over Phoenix, Smith finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists on Sunday, shooting 6-of-14 overall (42.9%) and 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%).
Smith has now had consecutive games with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds after not having any in his career before this stretch.
It was a fine statistical game for Smith’s frontcourt mate, Alperen Sengun, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 6-of-12 (50.0%). However, he also had a game-high 6 turnovers, and many of Sengun’s points and rebounds came late in the fourth quarter — after the game had largely been decided.
Other individual stat lines of note for the Rockets, who raced out to a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter, included:
- Fred VanVleet: 20 points, 3 assists; 7-of-16 shooting (43.8%), 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
- Jalen Green: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 1-of-5 on 3-pointers
- Dillon Brooks: 13 points, 2 assists; 4-of-5 on 3-pointers (80.0%)
It was a mixed bag for Houston’s rookie duo of Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Thompson had 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in 21 minutes while making some spectacular defensive plays. However, he shot just 2-of-10 (20.0%) and scored 6 points in 21 minutes.
Whitmore had 12 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 4-of-9 (44.4%) — but in contrast to Thompson, he struggled on defense.
Here’s our look at Sunday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up is Tuesday’s rematch in Oklahoma City, with tipoff at 9:00 p.m. Central.
Feb. 25 Rockets-Thunder reaction
I asked Ime Udoka if Jabari Smith Jr. (two straight 20-15 games) came back fresher after the All-Star break.
He said he wasn't sure, but he credited it more to a change in mindset. Obviously with rebounding, but also with aggressiveness on 3s. Attempted 10 on Friday, 9 today
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
Rockets lose 123-110. A fascinating game, honestly.
The Rockets couldn't stop the Thunder and they learned some tough lessons. Very curious to see how they respond.
The better team won, no doubt about that.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 26, 2024
Thunder PR:
Chet Holmgren recorded 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocks tonight against the Rockets. He joins Kevin Durant as the only other Thunder player to register those numbers.
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 26, 2024
A lot of this team’s offense relies on Alperen. When he doesn’t perform, we lose. He needed to be more aggressive and take over / get his teammates involved more early. I’d say this one’s on him.#Rockets
— Mitty (@MittyRockets) February 26, 2024
When Jabari Smith Jr. plays "big" like tonight the #Rockets are a completely different team.
On the verge of a 20/20 game with 17 points and 16 rebounds heading into the fourth quarter.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 26, 2024
Amen Thompson rejects SGA and it leads to a Cam Whitmore slam on the other end pic.twitter.com/OCC1eBrMVD
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 26, 2024
Jabari has been a monster on the glass tonight — his second straight game now of 16 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/GC01lGdYa9
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 26, 2024
Amen Thompson is an absolute menace defensively.
— MoiseKapenda Bower (@moisekapenda) February 26, 2024
Jabari Smith Jr has 12 points on 4-4 FG, 3-3 3P in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/SrbS1lhXc1
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 26, 2024
I asked Ime Udoka if Jabari Smith Jr. (two straight 20-15 games) came back fresher after the All-Star break.
He said he wasn't sure, but he credited it more to a change in mindset. Obviously with rebounding, but also with aggressiveness on 3s. Attempted 10 on Friday, 9 today
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
Alperen Sengun, asked about seeing more double teams as this season has progressed:
“They know me, right now. They know my moves. They’re coming earlier… on my dribble.”
Sengun says it’s on him to adjust and find shooters pic.twitter.com/IXvJqorfXF
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
Ime Udoka says he thinks it was a mistake to put Alperen Sengun back in the game with 3 fouls late in the first half, since he wasn't playing aggressive at all
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
Y’all, my son is not going out there on a broken wing. Not for nobody. This is the beginning of a long career, this isn’t a minute clinic. HE SAID WHAT HE SAID!!! And not only a fourth, we’re getting the BEST opinion!🤘🏾 https://t.co/DxMTzFceuZ
— MOMSTER “🫖” (@teroyaeason) February 26, 2024
SGA is ridiculous. Poise, fluidity and control. Elite game manager.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 26, 2024
And he's still had a tremendous impact because of defense. Cam is a turnstile. That's the difference https://t.co/B0LLh8Dirk
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
When Houston beat OKC in December, Sengun had 21 points (61.5% FG), 7 assists and 6 boards. Chet had 4 points (22.2% FG) and 5 rebounds.#Rockets just don't have the firepower elsewhere if they lose the center matchup here. They were fine in first half, but their pace of making… https://t.co/tiqDokIetc
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
Jabari Smith is playing like a grown man. This is how you move the needle.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 26, 2024
Ime was not happy with Sengun’s defense and let him know about it during the timeout…#Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) February 26, 2024
5 turnovers for Sengun in 16 minutes. Really bad
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 26, 2024
I need the doubters to explain to me why you are down on this #Rockets rebuild when Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore look THIS good in their rookie season?
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) February 26, 2024
The craziest part about Tari Eason is that he was nothing short of phenomenal in every game he played this season (the #Rockets were 12-10 when Tari played) and he was not at 100% healthy at any point in time this season.
Get well soon, Tari. pic.twitter.com/V3An4kDYCq
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) February 25, 2024
Thunder PR:
The Thunder overcame a 16-point deficit this evening against the Rockets to claim their 12th double-digit comeback of the season. That’s the most in the NBA.
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 26, 2024
#Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. on his recent surge following the All-Star Break:
"I don't want to have games where it feels like I'm just out there floating. Not letting the game come to me, kind of just going to get it."
"That's kind of my mentality."
— Connor McGovern (@ConnorDMcGovern) February 26, 2024
#Rockets center Alperen Şengün on what he wants improve on before playing the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Tuesday:
“I need to play more aggressive. They double me every possession, so I need to find an open shot and that’s going to make it easier to score for us.” pic.twitter.com/BqYCyArMkl
— Connor McGovern (@ConnorDMcGovern) February 26, 2024
Can making shots at a high clip early negatively impact the offense later on? "Kinda," Jabari Smith Jr said. "Because everybody starts feeling good. You get a lead and you think it's time to do your own thing, but we just gotta stay with it and play together the whole game."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 26, 2024
"Maybe the third one was a foul, but the first (two) weren't fouls at all," Alperen Sengun said. "That put me in a down (mood), so I was thinking a lot, and yeah, I couldn't play aggressive after that first quarter, but I tried my best in the second half." https://t.co/KcaCrRchBk
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 26, 2024
The selfishness in the 2nd half was obvious. Everybody played like they had to win the game themselves. He's right about a bunch of young players who let their D affect their O – esp the young starters https://t.co/N0v8u6W69q
— Robert Land | Houston Sports Talk Podcast Host (@HSTPodcast) February 26, 2024
https://t.co/bJttinOlmc pic.twitter.com/diykksd1N3
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 26, 2024
