Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Pick & Prediction APRIL 4th 2025
Preview and Prediction
It had been an expected outcome for some time, yet the Rockets had cause for celebration.
With their 143-105 triumph over the Utah Jazz at home on Wednesday, the Rockets (50-27) secured their first playoff appearance in five years. Houston emerged victorious for the 13th time in 15 games, extended their lead over the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets for the No. 2 spot in the West to three games, and set a positive tone for the challenging final stretch of the regular season.
That stretch begins on Friday against the top-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder (64-12), who have defeated the Rockets three out of four times this season.
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After ending the 2019-20 season with a loss in the conference semifinals to the Lakers in the COVID bubble, the Rockets won a total of 59 games over the next three seasons. Their lengthy rebuilding process took a significant step forward last year with a 41-41 finish.
Houston finally overcame their obstacles this season with a mix of experienced players added last season (Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams) to a young core led by Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, both of whom are in their fourth season and heading to the playoffs for the first time.
"It feels great to be back in the playoffs, and I'm sure for the guys who have never been there, it's a great accomplishment," said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. "But that was our goal this year, building off of last year. So I don't think anyone is overly ecstatic.
"We did what we needed to do and have put ourselves in a good position. Now, it's about maintaining that. That's our main focus. I don't think anyone is extremely thrilled. We have five games left and it's a tight race."
Not only are the Lakers and Nuggets within reach of the Rockets for the No. 2 spot, all three teams are competing for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Houston will wrap up the regular season against those two teams, with the game against the Lakers concluding a three-game road trip that starts with the Golden State Warriors and includes the Los Angeles Clippers.
"We'd like to maintain our position, so those games are significant in many ways," Udoka said. "It's going to be a high-pressure situation, which will be good for us to sharpen our skills heading into the playoffs."
The Thunder have won 18 of their last 19 games, including a 119-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. They currently have a three-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. If they win all their remaining games, the Thunder will finish with 70 wins. Only two teams have reached that milestone: the 2015-16 Warriors (73 wins) and the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72).
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Oklahoma City has been a dominant force this season, ranking third in offensive rating and first in defense. Maintaining that edge is crucial for the Thunder as they approach the playoffs.
"A lot of it comes down to fundamentals," said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. "That is important every single night in the NBA, including in the postseason. Keeping those fundamentals sharp and at the forefront of our minds is crucial. As we face different opponents, we have to adjust to their styles...a combination of our fundamentals and how our opponents play.
"We've played against quality opponents for a while now and will continue to do so. Everyone has something to play for. It's a good challenge for us. It sharpens our skills and tests us, forcing us to rise to the occasion if we want to win."
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Recap APR 4TH 2025
Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun combined for 65 points and the Houston Rockets rode a scorching second quarter to a 125-111 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
Green scored 34 points, Sengun added 31, and the Rockets (51-27) won for the 14th time in 16 games. Houston posted a 48-33 rebounding margin to maintain control after building a 23-point lead late in the second quarter.
Amen Thompson posted 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Steven Adams paired eight points with 12 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. totaled nine points and 17 boards off the bench for Houston.
Jalen Williams paced the Thunder with 33 points on 13-for-21 shooting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander notched 22 points and eight assists, and Chet Holmgren hit 6 of 8 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Thunder (64-13), who had their 11-game winning streak snapped.
The Thunder closed the third quarter on a 12-3 run -- Gilgeous-Alexander scored eight during that rally -- and shaved the margin to single digits multiple times in the fourth before Green scored on a finger roll layup to push the lead to 11 with 7:09 to play.
The Rockets capped the win with a pair of emphatic plays. Thompson blocked a jumper by Gilgeous-Alexander with 3:27 left, and Sengun's spin and dunk a minute later pushed the lead to 122-108.
Ball security plagued the Thunder early, with five turnovers in the first quarter yielding 12 points for the Rockets. Gilgeous-Alexander led a rally that pulled the Thunder to within 25-22, but with Green and Sengun combining for 25 points in the frame, Houston carried a 35-28 lead into the second.
Houston seized control early in the second behind when Adams made a block on Isaiah Hartenstein and scored two second-chance baskets, to extend to a 52-37 lead. The margin reached 69-46 on Smith's 3-pointer, before the Thunder scored the final seven points of the half.
The Rockets hit 6 of 11 shots from long range in the second quarter plus 19 fast-break points in the half. Sengun and Thompson scored eight each in the second.