ROCKETS LOSE TO OKC
Rockets’ depth tested in high-scoring loss to Thunder
Mar 3, 2025, 10:26 pm
Thunder defeat the Rockets, 137-128. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 51 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets 137-128 on Monday night for their 50th win of the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached 50 points for the fourth time this season, all in the past seven weeks. The NBA’s scoring leader finished with at least 40 for the ninth time in 2024-25. He made 18 of 30 field goals, went 5 of 9 on 3-pointers and hit all 10 of his free throws.
Jalen Williams added 24 points for the Thunder (50-11).
Cam Whitmore matched career highs with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Reed Sheppard added a career-best 25 points for the Rockets.
Houston was without injured Alperen Sengun (lower back soreness), Amen Thompson (right shoulder), Dillon Brooks (bruised right knee), Fred VanVleet (strained right ankle) and Tari Eason (lower left leg).
Houston’s largest lead was nine points early in the second quarter, but the Thunder rallied to lead 63-62 at halftime behind 28 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City took charge in the third. Gilgeous-Alexander was up to 45 points by the end of the period, and the Thunder led 102-89 heading into the fourth.
Houston made a final push, closing the gap to six before the Thunder regained control. Lu Dort made back-to-back 3-pointers 29 seconds apart, extending Oklahoma City’s lead to 120-106.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached 50 points on a putback with just under three minutes left to give Oklahoma City a 132-120 advantage.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston played fast but didn’t have the manpower to run with the Thunder, one of the league’s deepest teams.
Thunder: Oklahoma City was aggressive, and it led to the Thunder making 24 of 27 free throws.
Key moment
Dort stole the ball, leading to a fast-break dunk from Gilgeous-Alexander that gave Oklahoma City a 128-117 lead with just under four minutes remaining.
Key stat
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points in the first quarter.
Up next
The Rockets visit Indiana on Tuesday. The Thunder visit Memphis on Wednesday.
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The Astros open a three-game set Tuesday night against the struggling Chicago White Sox, looking to put together a solid homestand and maintain their lead atop the AL West.
Houston enters the series at 36-29, including a 22-12 mark at Daikin Park, where they've consistently found ways to win behind timely hitting and quality pitching. They'll send Lance McCullers (1-1, 4.44 ERA) to the mound, hoping he can keep the momentum going against a White Sox team that has labored all year, particularly on the road.
Chicago comes in at 22-44 overall and just 6-26 away from home, though starter Shane Smith (2-3, 2.45 ERA) has been a bright spot in an otherwise dim season. He’ll be tasked with trying to quiet a Houston lineup that’s been inconsistent of late but remains dangerous when it clicks — the Astros are 20-3 in games where they score five or more runs.
Jeremy Peña continues to lead the way at the plate, hitting .316 with nine homers and 32 RBIs, while Jake Meyers is coming off a four-hit game on Sunday and is 11-for-35 over the past 10 games. If those two stay hot, Houston could have an edge against the young right-hander.
The White Sox have gotten recent production from Chase Meidroth and Miguel Vargas, but overall remain one of the most inconsistent offenses in the league. Like Houston, they tend to win when they hit — they’re 14-3 in games where they’ve scored at least five runs — but those games have been few and far between.
Both teams have shown flashes in recent days. Over their last 10 games, the Astros are 6-4 but have been outscored overall, while the White Sox are 4-6 despite a slightly better run differential. With Houston favored at -195 and an over/under of 8, the pressure will be on McCullers to set the tone early — and on the bats to back him up.
The teams will meet for the fourth time this season Tuesday night, with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. ET.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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