HOUSTON — Receiving a cross from Jalen Inexperienced, Fred VanVleet launched a 3-point prayer that was answered. On the following possession, Dillon Brooks received the basketball on a scramble drill and hit a contested mid-range jumper.
These two pictures within the final moments have been stabbings within the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder119-115 defeat towards Houston Rockets. A daily season sport in December felt extra like a playoff outing than a working sport.
The Thunder fell behind early. A 33-28 first quarter deficit noticed OKC wanting like a workforce on the ultimate leg of an extended four-game highway journey. He got here again within the sport with a 32-point second body. The Rockets had a slim 62-60 lead at halftime.
After the break, the Thunder regarded extra rejuvenated. A 36-point third quarter swung the lead in OKC’s favor. In a battle between the league’s two finest defenses, the Thunder held a 96-91 lead after the primary three frames.
Jalen Williams kicked one other Isaiah Hartenstein alley-oop early within the fourth quarter to maintain OKC’s lead at 5 factors. The Rockets then tied it up with 5 straight factors. Jabari Smith Jr.’s 3-pointer had tied it at 100 factors apiece.
From then on, each groups stayed inside three factors of one another. VanVleet went supernova in his finest sport of the season. A deep 3-pointer gave Houston a 113-110 benefit with 89 seconds remaining. Cason Wallace responded from deep on the opposite finish of the road.
Williams made a rapid 3-pointer on the opposite finish to create a one-point deficit, however with simply 2.1 seconds left, the Thunder had little hope outdoors of a miracle. VanVleet made each of his free throw makes an attempt after being fouled and the 23-year-old’s shot missed.
It was fairly the heavyweight struggle and the environment was as much as par as effectively. After Shai, Gilgeous-Alexander and Brooks almost began a struggle over a board within the remaining moments. Each laughed about it however the ardour was there.
The Thunder shot 45% from the sphere and made 13 of 39 (33.3%) from 3. They made 19 of 25 from the free throw line. They made 30 assists on 42 baskets. 5 Thunder gamers scored double-digit factors.
Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 32 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists. Williams had 22 factors, seven assists and 5 rebounds. Hartenstein had a double-double of 19 factors. Wallace completed with 14 factors.
In the meantime, the Rockets shot 41 % from the sphere and made 13 of 37 (35.1 %) from 3. They made 30 of 39 from the free throw line. They made 20 assists on 38 baskets. 4 Rockets gamers scored double-digit factors.
VanVleet scored a season-high 38 factors on 10-of-19 capturing. He shot 5 of 9 from 3 and made 13 of 14 from the free throw line. Alperen Sengun totaled 20 factors, 14 rebounds and 9 assists. Smith Jr. had 15 factors and 14 rebounds.
Earlier than the sport, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka talked about that this was a very good barometer for the Rockets. It wasn’t mentioned, however the feeling was mutual for the Thunder. These are two of the very best groups within the league this season. How every stacks up towards the opposite might present perception right into a future playoff collection.
Whereas this loss might sting, the Thunder absolutely be ok with themselves. They competed with out Holmgren and Alex Caruso. A brief-handed OKC workforce additionally had a drawback at relaxation, as Houston was coming off a four-day break.
A 3-1 end on a crucial highway journey proved that the Thunder will proceed to struggle for the highest seed regardless of Holmgren’s absence.
Let’s take a look at the Thunder participant scores:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-minus
Foul after foul, the boos from the Rockets crowd grew louder. In 9 seconds, Gilgeous-Alexander dedicated 4 fouls.
That was the theme of Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency. He completed with 32 factors on 10-of-19 capturing, eight rebounds and 5 assists. He shot 9 of 11 from the free throw line and made 3 of seven from 3.
The Rockets – like most groups – had no reply for Gilgeous-Alexander. A 15-point third quarter gave OKC all of its workforce momentum earlier than being held again within the remaining body. That matched his two-point outing within the fourth quarter.
Alas, VanVleet outperformed Gilgeous-Alexander on this contest. The veteran level guard lived as much as his wage with a monster efficiency. When each groups wanted their prime scorers to make pictures, the previous did it greater than the latter. In an 82 sport season, this form of factor will are inclined to occur.
Jalen Williams: B-minus
The normally environment friendly Williams could not purchase a bucket. The 23-year-old’s drive to the hampers yielded no outcomes towards one of many league’s finest defenses. Dissecting his exit additional, there have been indicators of encouragement. He scored 17 factors within the second half alone. He cracked Houston’s code.
Williams completed with 22 factors on 7-of-21 capturing, seven assists and 5 rebounds. He shot 2 of seven from 3 and made 6 of seven from the free throw line.
By his requirements, it was Williams’ first setback after a robust run of All-Star video games. The Thunder might maintain their very own towards most opponents, however their margin for error with out Holmgren towards the Rockets is paper skinny.
Isaiah Hartenstein: B-minus
Diving for a unfastened ball, Thunder followers have been most likely holding their breath each time Hartenstein put his physique on the road. The seven-footer is just too worthwhile to look at him miss time. He understands this too since he yelled at himself for falling too many occasions.
Hartenstein continues to be a saving grace for OKC. In 5 video games, he had 5 double-doubles. In opposition to the Rockets, he had 19 factors on 9-of-12 capturing, 13 rebounds and 4 assists.
The final time the Thunder confronted the Rockets, Holmgren was Sengun’s major project. He dominated this battle. This time, this mission fell to Hartenstein. It was a way more balanced draw between the 2 facilities. He and Williams developed a robust relationship collectively of their second unit lineups.
The Thunder lastly suffered a defeat towards Hartenstein. However a three-point loss to a well-rested top-five workforce should not have any affect on his significance since his return.
Cason Wallace: B
A quiet wrestle for the Thunder was Wallace on the surface. After being a 40 % 3-point shooter final season, the 21-year-old appeared to have one other irritating night time from deep. Add in some questionable selections, the inconsistent capturing started to hold over into different areas of his offensive sport.
Then — to point out how fickle outdoors capturing is — Wallace hit some well timed 3-pointers that will have been highlighted if not for the loss. He completed with 14 factors on 5-of-11 capturing, 9 rebounds and two assists. He shot 3 of 6 from 3.
The Thunder have had an unusually poor begin to outdoors capturing this season. From first with a 3-point proportion final yr to the underside of the dimensions, it can absolutely flip round. However for that to occur, Wallace must make his pictures like he did final yr.
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This text was initially printed on OKC Thunder Wire: Participant Rankings: Thunder runs out of time in 119-116 loss to Rockets
