Game ID: 22401123
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets
Friday, April 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 35 34 27 29 125OKC 28 25 32 26 111
HOU vs OKC ScoutingHOU vs OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 12 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 4 since 3/19, returns tonight: 14 min (115% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 4 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 33 min since (103% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 10 min since (81% of 13)
NEW Green 33 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/30 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 3/15, returns tonight: 13 min (83% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 13 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 11 since 3/08, returns tonight: 12 min (99% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 3/21, returns tonight: 10 min (84% of 12)
OUT Tate missed 5 since 3/19, returns tonight: 13 min (113% of 11)
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 32 min since (98% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 11 min since (90% of 13)
BACK Landale back 3/27 after 4, 14 min since (115% of 12)
NEW Adams 15 to 23 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/31 · back-to-backOUT Dante missed 14 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 30 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Whitmore back 3/30 after 7, 13 min since (83% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 14 min since (115% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 3/30 after 11, 12 min since (99% of 12)
BACK Landale back 3/27 after 4, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 3/30 after 4, 10 min since (84% of 12)
BACK Tate back 3/30 after 5, 13 min since (113% of 11)
NEW Adams 15 to 20 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 15 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 3/30 after 7, 13 min since (83% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 14 min since (115% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 3/30 after 11, 12 min since (99% of 12)
BACK Landale back 3/27 after 4, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 3/30 after 4, 10 min since (84% of 12)
BACK Tate back 3/30 after 5, 13 min since (113% of 11)
HOU availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 16 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 3/30 after 7, 12 min since (81% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 14 min since (113% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 3/30 after 11, 10 min since (87% of 12)
BACK Landale back 3/27 after 4, 16 min since (140% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 3/30 after 4, 8 min since (71% of 12)
BACK Tate back 3/30 after 5, 12 min since (110% of 11)
HOU availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 17 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 3/30 after 7, 9 min since (56% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 3/30 after 11, 7 min since (60% of 12)
BACK Landale back 3/27 after 4, 16 min since (140% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 3/30 after 4, 8 min since (71% of 12)
BACK Tate back 3/30 after 5, 13 min since (117% of 11)
HOU availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restOUT Dante missed 18 since 3/04, returns tonight: 14 min (107% of 13)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 4/04, returns tonight: 34 min (294% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 4/04, returns tonight: 18 min (161% of 12)
BACK Whitmore back 3/30 after 7, 7 min since (44% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 3/30 after 11, 6 min since (48% of 12)
BACK Tate back 3/30 after 5, 10 min since (90% of 11)
HOU availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restBACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 14 min since (107% of 13)
BACK Landale back 4/09 after 2, 34 min since (294% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 18 min since (161% of 12)
HOU availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 27 min (76% of 36)
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Sengun missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 24 min (74% of 32)
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 22 min (70% of 32)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 17 min (116% of 15)
BACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 14 min since (110% of 13)
BACK Landale back 4/09 after 2, 29 min since (252% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 20 min since (176% of 12)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 18 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 7 since 3/12, returns tonight: 29 min (88% of 33)
OUT Mitchell missed 38 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Dort back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (103% of 29)
NEW Joe 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Jay. Williams 14 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 39 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 3/27 after 7, 29 min since (88% of 33)
BACK Dort back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (102% of 29)
NEW K. Williams 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Jay. Williams 14 to 21 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 40 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 3/27 after 7, 29 min since (88% of 33)
BACK Dort back 3/23 after 3, 31 min since (105% of 29)
NEW K. Williams 15 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 4 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 41 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 3/27 after 7, 28 min since (84% of 33)
BACK Dort back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (102% of 29)
NEW K. Williams 15 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 5 since 3/25, returns tonight: 19 min (92% of 21)
OUT Mitchell missed 42 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 3/27 after 7, 29 min since (88% of 33)
NEW Joe 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Jay. Williams missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 43 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 3/27 after 7, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 19 min since (92% of 21)
OKC availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Jay. Williams missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 44 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 20 min since (96% of 21)
OKC availability going into 4/09 · back-to-backOUT Jay. Williams missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 24 min (169% of 14)
OUT Mitchell missed 45 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 18 min since (84% of 21)
OKC availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 46 since 1/05, returns tonight: 18 min (126% of 14)
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 21 min since (103% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 24 min since (169% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 46 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wiggins (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 46 percent from three to Houston's 38 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-13 a night and OKC plus-7. Call it Houston 116, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
3/27 @ UTA 121-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 121-110. HOU shot 46% (47 of 102) to UTA's 54%, 12 of 37 from three. HOU turned it over 9 times to UTA's 16. The glass went 51-33 for them. Sengun led with 33 (11 of 19, 11 of 13 at the line); Green added 21, Eason 15. The hinge was Q3, 36-29: a lead of 2 became 9, and the lead reached 15. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/30 @ PHX 148-109 — HOU notes
HOU won 148-109. HOU shot 57% (56 of 98) to PHX's 48%, 18 of 31 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHX's 17 — 18 points from the stripe to their 15. HOU turned it over 9 times to PHX's 19. Ja. Green led with 33 (9 of 17, 4 of 5 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Sengun added 16, VanVleet 13. The hinge was Q2, 46-25: a lead of 8 became 29, and the lead reached 42. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
3/31 @ LAL 98-104 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-104. HOU shot 42% (37 of 89) to LAL's 39%, 10 of 32 from three. Thompson led with 20 (8 of 14, 1 of 3 from three); Brooks added 16, Smith Jr. 15. Q1 was theirs, 19-16, but the other 3 periods went 88-79 against them. Green's -11 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 vs UTA 143-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 143-105. HOU shot 54% (56 of 104) to UTA's 43%, 19 of 45 from three. The glass went 63-39 for them. Ja. Green led with 22 (7 of 15, 4 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Brooks added 21, Sengun 15. The hinge was Q2, 37-20: a lead of 7 became 24, and the lead reached 41. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
4/04 vs OKC 125-111 — HOU notes
HOU won 125-111. HOU shot 49% (45 of 92) to OKC's 48%, 13 of 29 from three, and went to the line 26 times to OKC's 15 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 48-33 for them. Green led with 34 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Sengun added 31, Thompson 16. The hinge was Q2, 34-25: a lead of 7 became 16, and the lead reached 23. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/06 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 32 and Podziemski at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 24 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 14 a night. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-14 a night and Golden State plus-5. Call it Golden State 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
4/09 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 99, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Coffey (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 24 and Sengun at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 112, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
4/11 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 27 a game. Without Morris (10 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 20 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and the Lakers plus-0 and the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Houston's 18. Call it the Lakers 114, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
4/13 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight), Thompson (2 straight), Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Braun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Denver's 31 and the line, where Denver takes 24 free throws a game to Houston's 17. Call it Houston 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
3/27 vs MEM 125-104 — OKC notes
OKC won 125-104. OKC shot 49% (44 of 90) to MEM's 42%, 13 of 31 from three. OKC turned it over 12 times to MEM's 18. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 37 (15 of 25, 7 of 9 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Hartenstein 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-15: a lead of 2 became 21. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/29 vs IND 132-111 — OKC notes
OKC won 132-111. OKC shot 51% (48 of 94) to IND's 45%, 17 of 36 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 33 (10 of 23, 3 of 6 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Dort added 22, Joe 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-22: a lead of 2 became 12, and the lead reached 25. K. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/31 vs CHI 145-117 — OKC notes
OKC won 145-117. OKC shot 53% (52 of 98) to CHI's 45%, 23 of 43 from three, and went to the line 23 times to CHI's 16 — 18 points from the stripe to their 13. OKC turned it over 14 times to CHI's 19. Joe led with 31 (10 of 17, 8 of 14 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 27, Jal. Williams 23. The hinge was Q2, 45-22: a lead of 11 became 34, and the lead reached 43. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/02 vs DET 119-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 119-103. OKC shot 44% (42 of 96) to DET's 40%, 10 of 38 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DET's 25 — 25 points from the stripe to their 21. OKC turned it over 10 times to DET's 18. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 33 (10 of 26, 2 of 7 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Jal. Williams added 23, Holmgren 22. The hinge was Q1, 41-27: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
4/04 @ HOU 111-125 — OKC notes
OKC lost 111-125. OKC shot 48% (43 of 89) to HOU's 49%, 13 of 35 from three, and got to the line 15 times to HOU's 26. The glass went 33-48 against them. J. Williams led with 33 (13 of 21, 2 of 3 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gilgeous-Alexander added 22, Holmgren 20. Q3 was theirs, 32-27, the deficit cut from 16 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 98-79 against them. K. Williams's -15 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Reaves at 27 and Dončić at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morris (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-0 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the arc, OKC at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 37. Call it OKC 120, the Lakers 111.
4/08 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 27 and Reaves at 25 a game. Without Morris (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 117, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/09 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 130, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; Booker at 33 and Allen at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 29 and the defense, OKC allowing 118 a night to Phoenix's 130. Call it OKC 121, Phoenix 113.
4/11 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 133, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and George at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kessler (3 straight), Martin (3 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 117 a night to Utah's 133 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 13 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 122, Utah 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAC A. Caruso
AW A. Wiggins
BC B. Carlson
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
JW J. Williams
JO Jones
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
OKC/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Green scores 34 as Rockets snap Thunder's 11-game winning streak with 125-111 victory
HOUSTON -- — Jalen Green had 34 points, Alperen Sengun added 31 and the Houston Rockets snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder 's 11-game winning streak with a 125-111 victory Friday night.
Houston, which is second in the Western Conference, improved to 2/3 against the top-seeded Thunder with the win. Oklahoma City lost for the first time since March 10.
The Rockets led by 23 in the first half but the Thunder got within nine on a shot by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with about 7 ½ minutes to go. Green scored five points in a 7-2 run to make it 113-99 midway through the quarter and Oklahoma City didn’t get within single digits again.
Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 33 points and Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 to reach 20 points for the 70th straight game , moving past Michael Jordan for the fourth-longest single-season streak in NBA history.
The Rockets were up by 12 in the third when they used a 10-2 spurt to extend the lead to 93-73 with 3 minutes left in the quarter. But Gilgeous-Alexander scored eight points in a 12-3 run to end the quarter and cut the lead to 96-85 entering the fourth.
Takeaways Thunder: Chet Holmgren , who had 20 points, made a career-high six 3-pointers after going 1 of 11 combined from long range in his last three games.
Rockets: Houston got the win despite missing perhaps its best defender with Dillon Brooks serving a one-game suspension after receiving his 16th technical foul Wednesday night.
Key moment Houston’s run in the fourth after the Thunder cut the lead to nine, which was capped by a 3 from Green.
Key stat Houston outrebounded Oklahoma City 48-33.
Up next Houston visits Golden State on Sunday night and the Thunder play the first of consecutive games against the Lakers on Sunday.