The Houston Rockets, undeterred by the absence of Oklahoma City Thunder’s star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, celebrated a hard-fought 132-126 overtime win during Wednesday’s NBA action, marking their 10th consecutive victory. Jalen Green‘s explosive 37 points led the Rockets in a game, highlighting both teams’ resilience and competitive spirit.
“It was lit, it was lit,” Green shared about the jubilant post-game locker room atmosphere. “Everybody was happy, celebrating, screaming. I mean, we fought for that one. We worked hard.”
Rockets coach Ime Udoka emphasized the significance of their winning streak, dismissing any detractors pointing to the Thunder’s missing All-Star.
“Ten in a row is 10 in a row, regardless if Shai is out or whatever the case may be,” Udoka stated. “But it’s hard to do in the NBA. The guys are proud of that effort, and well deserved.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks also made significant contributions, with Thompson posting a double-double and Brooks adding crucial points, especially in overtime.
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence due to a bruised right thigh, the Thunder’s Josh Giddey matched his career-high with 31 points, and Jalen Williams added a double-double of his own. The loss came as Oklahoma City sought to close the gap with the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stressed accountability and the team’s focus on factors within their control.
“Every night, there’s a combination of things you can control and things you can’t,” Daigneault said. “You want to be a team that looks at the stuff you can control. We just never want to turn a page and chalk an entire game up to luck or shot-making or refs or anything like that. You want a team that takes full accountability for what we can. We do that after wins, we do that after losses and we’ll do that after this one.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
The game’s climax in regulation featured a dramatic tie, leading to overtime, where the Rockets, propelled by Brooks’ early 3-pointers, secured the win.
“Had a decent look at a shot, but we felt OK, put it behind us and we just went after it,” Udoka remarked, reflecting on the team’s mindset entering overtime.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
The match began unexpectedly, as confetti fell onto the court. This set the stage for a contest filled with intensity and pivotal plays, including a technical foul that underscored the game’s high stakes.
As the Rockets aim to extend their winning streak further, they next face the Utah Jazz, while the Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns, both games poised to add another chapter to an already thrilling NBA season.
