Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintain an elite defensive rating of 106.8 with a strong record, while the Houston Rockets counter with one of the league's best offensive ratings at 115.2. OKC's balanced roster and veteran depth provide advantages in overall team construction, though Houston's high-octane offense keeps them competitive in the Western Conference standings.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Young, rebuilding NBA team featuring emerging stars Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green competing in the Western Conference.
Young, rising team with elite defense led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and emerging prospects.
Current Win-Loss Record (2025-26 Season). Offensive Rating (Points per 100 possessions). Defensive Rating (Points allowed per 100 possessions). 3-Point Percentage Team Average. Average Points Per Game. Net Rating (Offensive - Defensive Rating). Playoff Seed (Current Eastern Conference)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the stronger team with a 7-game lead in the standings and a +5.6 net rating, combining elite defense with balanced scoring. Choose the Thunder if you value proven playoff readiness and balanced team construction; choose the Rockets if you're drawn to dynamic offensive firepower and younger, high-ceiling potential—though Houston must improve defensively to compete in the postseason.
Houston Rockets: 119.7 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 116.8 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 0 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 0
Houston Rockets: 43% | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 9 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 0 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: $142M | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 116 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Not publicly listed | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Lower position | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 48.1% | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Lower average | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Not on streak | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 2025-26 seat upgrades completed | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Not specified | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 43-29 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 57-16
Houston Rockets: 6th Seed | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st (West)
Houston Rockets: 26.0 (Durant) | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30.1 PPG
Houston Rockets: 6.1 (Sengun) | Oklahoma City Thunder: 10.9 (SGA)
Houston Rockets: 8.9 (Sengun) | Oklahoma City Thunder: 10+ (Holmgren)
Houston Rockets: 108 points | Oklahoma City Thunder: 110 points
Houston Rockets: Led 80-74 after Q3 | Oklahoma City Thunder: Led 52-46 at halftime
Houston Rockets: Sheppard, Eason contributing 3-pointers | Oklahoma City Thunder: Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack
Houston Rockets: 1 finals trip (2018) | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 1 current year; 9 of last 16 | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 35.7% | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 2 championships | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 41-40 (10th place West) | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Alperen Şengün - 22 years old | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: .495 (2,044-2,091) | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: 2 Finals trips | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: $142.8 million | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Toyota Center - 20,799 capacity | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: Jalen Green - 18.2 PPG | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 36-12
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 116.2
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 37.2%
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 47.1
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.4
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 8.9
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 116.8
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.3
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 2nd (West)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 37.9%
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 117.8
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st (Western)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 All-Stars
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st seed
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.1 PPG
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 110.2
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 56-26
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 0
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 47-22
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 118.5
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 109.3
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.2 (SGA)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 4
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 24.8
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 6 seasons
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Never
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 48-52
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 115.2
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 126
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 46.2
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: -5.5 (leading)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 65-17
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +7.9
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 24.1
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 3
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st
Current Win-Loss Record (2024-25 season)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 40-12
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30.1 PPG
Net Rating (scoring margin per 100 possessions)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +10.6
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 (Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Dort)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st (projected)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 47-15
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 99%
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +400
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $163M
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 36.2%
Nikola Jokic vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Best Player Comparison)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.1 PPG / 6.5 APG / 60.1% eFG% (SGA)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 115.9
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 32-12
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $176.4M
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 2.8 BPG
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 52-30
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +9.5
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 9
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $145.8M
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 36-8
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 29.3 PPG
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 24.3 years
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $165 million
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 105.2
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.1 (SGA)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 8.1
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 38.1%
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $134 million ($50M under)
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 32-10
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +8.9
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st Seed
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 38-8
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 28.4
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 of 5
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 112.4
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30.1
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 48.1%
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 114.8
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 30.1
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 2 All-Stars
Houston Rockets: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Extensive (8+)
How to choose between Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder
Compare Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder. Contains 137 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder.
Which team is better positioned for the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are significantly better positioned with a +5.6 net rating, 45-22 record, and 3rd seed status. Their elite 106.8 defensive rating combined with 112.4 offensive rating creates balanced playoff success. Houston's 3-game losing streak and 14th seed standing suggest they'll need 8-10 more wins to reach the playoffs at all.
Does Houston have a chance to catch up to OKC this season?
Yes, it's mathematically possible but unlikely. Houston trails by 7 wins with approximately 15 games remaining. They would need to win 70%+ of remaining games while OKC wins under 50%. Houston's stronger offensive rating (115.2 vs 112.4) is their advantage, but their defensive gap (5.3 points per 100 possessions worse) makes consistent winning difficult.
Who has the better defense, Rockets or Thunder?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have significantly superior defense with a 106.8 defensive rating ranking 1st in the NBA, while Houston's 112.1 rating ranks 22nd. This 5.3-point gap is substantial—it's equivalent to OKC forcing turnovers and defending perimeter shots at an elite level while Houston struggles with defensive consistency.
The Houston Rockets have a superior offense with a 115.2 offensive rating (Rockets rank 4th in PPG at 116.3) compared to Oklahoma City's 112.4 rating. Houston's 38.1% 3-point shooting is 2.4 percentage points better than OKC, showing they're more efficient from beyond the arc and in fast-break scenarios.
What are the playoff implications of the current standings?
Oklahoma City is locked into playoff position at the 3rd seed. Houston currently sits outside the playoff picture at 14th seed and would need to finish in the top 10 to make the playoffs. The play-in tournament (seeds 7-10) is Houston's realistic path if they cannot climb into the top 6. OKC could potentially move higher with continued wins.
How to Choose Between Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder
Consider: Current Win-Loss Record (2025-26 Season)
Current Win-Loss Record (2025-26 Season): Houston Rockets has 38-29, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 45-22.
Consider: Offensive Rating (Points per 100 possessions)
Offensive Rating (Points per 100 possessions): Houston Rockets has 115.2, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 112.4.
Consider: Defensive Rating (Points allowed per 100 possessions)
Defensive Rating (Points allowed per 100 possessions): Houston Rockets has 112.1, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 106.8.
Consider: 3-Point Percentage Team Average
3-Point Percentage Team Average: Houston Rockets has 38.1%, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 35.7%.
Average Points Per Game: Houston Rockets has 116.3, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 113.8.
Consider: Net Rating (Offensive - Defensive Rating)
Net Rating (Offensive - Defensive Rating): Houston Rockets has +3.1, while Oklahoma City Thunder has +5.6.
Consider: Playoff Seed (Current Eastern Conference)
Playoff Seed (Current Eastern Conference): Houston Rockets has 14th, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 3rd.