Game ID: 22500581
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets
Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 19 29 27 16 91OKC 21 34 22 34 111
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 1/07 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 17 min since (52% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 31 min since (137% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 31 min since (135% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 3 since 1/05, returns tonight: 35 min (105% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 31 min since (138% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 35 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 29 min since (129% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 27 min since (119% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 1/13, returns tonight: 16 min (99% of 16)
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 35 min since (103% of 34)
HOU availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (99% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 5 since 1/11, returns tonight: 20 min (75% of 26)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 20 min since (75% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (96% of 16)
OKC availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 1/05, returns tonight: 24 min (124% of 19)
OUT J. Williams missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 12 since 12/18, returns tonight: 7 min (65% of 11)
OKC availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 13 since 12/18, returns tonight: 14 min (76% of 19)
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 24 min since (124% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/09 after 12, 7 min since (65% of 11)
NEW Wiggins 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 8 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 19 min since (99% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 1/11 after 13, 14 min since (76% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/09 after 12, 7 min since (65% of 11)
NEW Jal. Williams 27 to 34 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 9 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 2 since 1/11, returns tonight: 3 min (26% of 11)
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 1/11 after 13, 19 min since (98% of 19)
NEW Jal. Williams 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 25 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 10 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 19 min since (99% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 1/11 after 13, 18 min since (93% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/09 after 12, 5 min since (45% of 11)
NEW Jal. Williams 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 11 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 3 since 1/13, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 20 min since (101% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 1/11 after 13, 18 min since (93% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/09 after 12, 5 min since (45% of 11)
NEW Wiggins 19 to 25 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 12 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 4 since 1/13, returns tonight: 16 min (140% of 12)
BACK J. Williams back 1/11 after 13, 16 min since (82% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/15 after 2, 4 min since (34% of 11)
NEW Wiggins 19 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Hartenstein missed 13 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Carlson back 1/21 after 4, 16 min since (140% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 1/15 after 2, 3 min since (28% of 11)
NEW Wiggins 19 to 26 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 24 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Thompson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Eason (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 30 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Hartenstein (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and OKC minus-8 and the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to OKC's 115. Call it Houston 114, OKC 113, OKC keeping it close.
1/07 @ POR 102-103 — HOU notes
HOU lost 102-103. HOU took 16 more shots (99 to 83), fed by 24 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to POR's 43%, 8 of 36 from three. The glass went 57-38 for them. Durant led with 37 (14 of 26, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Thompson added 24, Eason 15. Q4 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 6 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 81-75 against them.
1/09 @ POR 105-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 105-111. HOU shot 42% (40 of 96) to POR's 42%, 10 of 44 from three. The glass went 56-43 for them. Durant led with 30 (11 of 20, 4 of 9 from three); Thompson added 24, Sheppard 20. Q3 was theirs, 34-22, but the other 3 periods went 89-71 against them. They led by as many as 13.
1/11 @ SAC 98-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-111. HOU shot 43% (36 of 84) to SAC's 48%, 7 of 30 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAC's 20 — 19 points from the stripe to their 15. Thompson led with 31 (11 of 17, 9 of 12 at the line); Durant added 23, Sengun 19. Q1 was theirs, 23-22, but the other 3 periods went 89-75 against them. Holiday's -19 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 vs CHI 119-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-113. HOU shot 51% (45 of 88) to CHI's 44%, 7 of 24 from three, and went to the line 29 times to CHI's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 19. The glass went 50-40 for them. Durant led with 28 (12 of 23, 1 of 5 from three); Thompson added 23, Sengun 23. The hinge was Q1, 29-24: from level to 5 ahead. HOU trailed 57-60 at the half and won the second half 62-53. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/15 vs OKC 91-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 91-111. HOU took 15 more shots (104 to 89), fed by 23 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to OKC's 46%, 7 of 24 from three. The glass went 60-44 for them. Durant led with 19 (7 of 23, 0 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 17, Sengun 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 89-64 against them. Durant's -20 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 110, shooting 41 percent and 25 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Thompson at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Eason (3 straight), Finney-Smith (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Randle at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 44 percent from three to Houston's 25 and the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to Minnesota's 19. Call it Minnesota 116, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
1/18 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Eason (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murphy III at 29 and Williamson at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (6 straight), Murray (14 straight), Alvarado (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 39 percent from three to Houston's 29 and the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/20 vs SAS — 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 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eason (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 28 and Fox at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vassell (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 39 percent from three to Houston's 32 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio plus-2. Call it Houston 114, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/22 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Maxey at 24 a game. Without George (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Sengun at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Philadelphia minus-3. Call it Philadelphia 114, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/07 vs UTA 129-125 — OKC notes
OKC won 129-125 in 1 overtime. OKC shot 44% (44 of 101) to UTA's 44%, 7 of 38 from three, and went to the line 42 times to UTA's 21 — 34 points from the stripe to their 16. OKC turned it over 11 times to UTA's 20. The glass went 51-65 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 46 (14 of 26, 1 of 8 from three, 17 of 19 at the line); Holmgren added 23, J. Williams 17. The hinge was Q1, 31-22: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 20.
1/09 @ MEM 117-116 — OKC notes
OKC won 117-116. OKC shot 47% (43 of 91) to MEM's 47%, 9 of 37 from three. OKC turned it over 6 times to MEM's 17. The glass went 36-52 against them. Jal. Williams led with 26 (9 of 18, 0 of 3 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Mitchell added 23, K. Williams 21. The hinge was Q4, 36-22: OKC came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 1. OKC trailed 46-65 at the half and won the second half 71-51. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/11 vs MIA 124-112 — OKC notes
OKC won 124-112. OKC shot 51% (47 of 93) to MIA's 54%, 10 of 34 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MIA's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 7. OKC turned it over 13 times to MIA's 23. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 29 (10 of 19, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Jal. Williams added 18, Holmgren 16. The hinge was Q3, 39-26: OKC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 20. OKC trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 70-53. A. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/13 vs SAS 119-98 — OKC notes
OKC won 119-98. OKC shot 52% (42 of 81) to SAS's 40%, 11 of 30 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 34 (11 of 23, 1 of 4 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Caruso 13. The hinge was Q3, 40-24: a lead of 3 became 19, and the lead reached 24. Jay. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
1/15 @ HOU 111-91 — OKC notes
OKC won 111-91. OKC shot 46% (41 of 89) to HOU's 34%, 16 of 41 from three. The glass went 44-60 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 20 (6 of 11, 1 of 3 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Holmgren added 18, Mitchell 17. The hinge was Q4, 34-16: a lead of 2 became 20, and the lead reached 25. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/17 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Herro at 20 and Powell at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 28 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Hartenstein (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 108 a night to Miami's 122 and the turnovers, Miami giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 119, Miami 112.
1/19 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Wade (5 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Mitchell at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Hartenstein (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 108 a night to Cleveland's 122 and the arc, Cleveland at 43 percent from three to OKC's 35. Call it OKC 118, Cleveland 117, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/21 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 24 and Portis at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Prince (34 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 105, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Hartenstein (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 105 a night to Milwaukee's 115. Call it OKC 118, Milwaukee 109.
1/23 vs IND — 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 122 a night and allowing 103, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jal. Williams (2 straight), Hartenstein (13 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Mathurin (10 straight), Thompson (2 straight), Toppin (42 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 30 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Indiana's 117. Call it OKC 121, Indiana 105, OKC by 16.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
JD J. Davison
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
OKCAC A. Caruso
AM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
CY C. Youngblood
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
HOU/OKC 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
Thunder surge in fourth quarter to defeat Rockets 111-91
HOUSTON -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points, Chet Holmgren added 18 and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 111-91 on Thursday night.
Cason Wallace added 17 off the bench and the NBA-leading Thunder outscored Houston 34-16 in the final quarter to get a fifth straight victory.
Kevin Durant led Houston with 19 points, but he was 0 for 5 on 3-pointers and 7 for 23 overall on a night the Rockets made just 7 of 24 behind the arc.
The Thunder led by two early in the fourth quarter before using an 11-2 run, with a 3-pointer from Ajay Mitchell and two from Wallace, to make it 90-79 with less than nine minutes to go.
Oklahoma City remained up by nine later in the fourth when Mitchell hit another 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run that made it 99-83 with about four minutes remaining. Jaylin Williams capped that scoring spurt with a two-handed dunk and Houston coach Ime Udoka called a timeout as many fans began streaming toward the exits.
Udoka was given a technical foul for barking at officials during the timeout and the Thunder continued their run after it, extending it to 14-0. Gilgeous-Alexander made the technical free throw before adding three more in the next couple of minutes and a 3 by Kenrich Williams made it 106-83 with 2 minutes left.
By the time Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer a few seconds after that, the Rockets had gone more than five minutes without scoring.
It’s the second meeting between these teams this season after Oklahoma City got a 125-124 double-overtime victory in the season opener for both teams.
The Rockets outrebounded Oklahoma City 60-44, but were done in by their poor shooting. They shot just 33.7% to 46.1% by the Thunder and Oklahoma City made 16 of 41 3-pointers.