HOUSTON (AP) — Jalen Green had 28 points and a career-high nine assists, Alperen Sengun added 21 points, a career-best 18 rebounds and seven assists, and the Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-105 on Saturday night.
Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. had his third double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Portland last March 25-26.
“I think we’re just tired of losing in general. We’re coming together and buying in on the defensive side,” Green said. “I think that’s what’s been helping us out.”
Smith is the 12th player 19 years old or younger to have at least three double-doubles within his first 18 games. Smith recorded his 100th career defensive rebound in the first quarter as well.
“He’s very aggressive and I love that,” coach Stephen Silas said. “He’s aggressive. He’s shooting the ball better. His work is paying off. He’s a great worker. On the defensive end he really solidifies us and his rebounding is really good. He’s starting to understand how he can be successful out there.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 of the Thunder’s first 22 points of the game and has scored 30 or more in four straight games.
Josh Giddey chipped in 18 points, Aaron Wiggins had 15 off the bench and Jalen Williams scored 11 for the Thunder, who have dropped four of five.
“They took it to us, they threw the first punch,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They kept coming. I thought they played with great force on offense and they played stout defense. So credit them, they took it to us tonight.”
After missing Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Eric Gordon and Sengun returned to the starting lineup and had an immediate impact for Houston.
Sengun scored seven points in the first quarter before Gordon made a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left for a 23-22 lead. Gordon finished with 15 points and was 4 of 6 on 3s.
Houston then hit 7 of 11 (63.6%) from behind the arc in the second quarter and outscored Oklahoma City 42-22 en route to its biggest lead of the season, going up 65-44 at the half.
“Our defense wasn’t what it should have been and needed to be to win a game,” Giddey said. “They capitalized. Slow starts have been a common theme, we got to flip the switch and come out of the gates ready to go. Just didn’t from the jump tonight.”
The Rockets finished the first half shooting 11 of 19 (57.9%) from 3 and 18 of 36 (50%) for the game.
All five starters for the Rockets finished in double digits in scoring. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 16 points.
“Honestly, every game we’ve been getting better,” Porter said. “Especially the starting five. At the beginning of the season we were very slow at starting most games but as you can see we’re starting to throw the first punch and that’s been helping the bench come in and maintain or grow the lead.”
CAREER NIGHT FOR SENGUN
As Sengun sat and watched the Rockets climb out of a 15-point deficit on Friday, he knew he would be back in the lineup on Saturday and needed to help them get another win.
“I was playing bad the last couple of games,” Sengun said. “I just focused more today.”
TIP-INS
Thunder: Mike Muscala missed his third straight game with a broken left pinky … Oklahoma City started the game 1 of 8 from 3 and finished 9 of 37 (24.3%).
Rockets: Gordon and Sengun both had been sidelined by right groin strains.… Ja’Sean Tate was out for the 12th straight game with a sore right ankle.
UP NEXT
Thunder: At New Orleans on Monday
Rockets: At Denver on Monday
Joshua Koch, The Associated Press
