Who are the top scorers for each team?

Kevin Durant leads the Houston Rockets with 26.0 points per game, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA's leading scorer for the Oklahoma City Thunder at 33.4 points per game. SGA also averages 10.9 assists per game, making him a dual-threat MVP candidate.

What are the playoff implications of their current records?

OKC's 57-16 record and 1st seed position puts them as the favorite to win the Western Conference and compete for the NBA championship. Houston's 43-29 record and 6th seed position suggests they would face the 3rd seed in the first round, giving them a more challenging playoff path.

How does Alperen Sengun compare to OKC's defensive players?

Alperen Sengun is a versatile offensive player averaging 8.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists for Houston, excelling as a playmaking big man. Chet Holmgren for OKC plays a different role, focusing on elite defensive prowess, shot-blocking, and rebounding at 10+ per game, representing OKC's defensive anchor.

What key differences shaped the head-to-head matchup?

OKC controlled the first half with balanced scoring and defense, leading 52-46 at intermission. Houston made a strong third-quarter push, taking a 80-74 lead behind Kevin Durant and supporting cast scoring. However, OKC's superior overall depth and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's all-around excellence proved decisive in the closing moments.

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Updated March 28, 2026

Houston Rockets

NBA team competing in Western Conference with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun

Fans seeking dynamic offensive basketball with veteran All-Star leadership

Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Basketball purists seeking championship-contending team with balanced excellence

Short Answer

The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Western Conference with a 57-16 record and feature MVP-caliber performances from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Houston Rockets sit in 6th place at 43-29 with strong contributions from Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. OKC's dominant season positions them as clear conference favorites over Houston's competitive but lower-seeded squad.

Our Verdict

The Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as the dominant force in the 2025-26 NBA season with a 14-game lead over the Rockets in the standings and an elite record. While Houston possesses talented All-Stars in Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, OKC's balance, led by the sensational Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, gives them a clear competitive edge heading into the playoffs.

Houston Rockets5.8

9.2Oklahoma City Thunder

Choose Houston Rockets if

Fans seeking dynamic offensive basketball with veteran All-Star leadership

Choose Oklahoma City Thunder if

Basketball purists seeking championship-contending team with balanced excellence

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Wins-Loss Record: Oklahoma City Thunder wins (57-16 (1st seed) vs 43-29 (6th seed))

🔹

Leading Scorer: Oklahoma City Thunder wins (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.4 PPG) vs Kevin Durant (26.0 PPG))

🔹

Playmaking Engine: Oklahoma City Thunder wins (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.9 APG) vs Alperen Sengun (6.1 APG))

See all 7 differences

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Key Differences

Houston Rockets

Attribute

Oklahoma City Thunder

43-29 (6th seed)

Wins-Loss Record

57-16 (1st seed)🏆

Kevin Durant (26.0 PPG)

Leading Scorer

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.4 PPG)🏆

Alperen Sengun (6.1 APG)

Playmaking Engine

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.9 APG)🏆

Alperen Sengun (8.9 RPG)

Rebounding Leader

Chet Holmgren (elite defense/rebounding)🏆

6th in Western Conference

Conference Standing

1st in Western Conference🏆

Lost 108-110 to OKC

Recent Head-to-Head

Won 110-108 vs HOU🏆

Multiple shooters (Sheppard, Eason, Durant)

Three-Point Shooting Impact

Balanced scoring attack with SGA and JWilliams

Wins-Loss Record

Houston Rockets

43-29 (6th seed)

Oklahoma City Thunder

57-16 (1st seed)🏆

Leading Scorer

Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant (26.0 PPG)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.4 PPG)🏆

Playmaking Engine

Houston Rockets

Alperen Sengun (6.1 APG)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.9 APG)🏆

Rebounding Leader

Houston Rockets

Alperen Sengun (8.9 RPG)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Chet Holmgren (elite defense/rebounding)🏆

Conference Standing

Houston Rockets

6th in Western Conference

Oklahoma City Thunder

1st in Western Conference🏆

Recent Head-to-Head

Houston Rockets

Lost 108-110 to OKC

Oklahoma City Thunder

Won 110-108 vs HOU🏆

Three-Point Shooting Impact

Houston Rockets

Multiple shooters (Sheppard, Eason, Durant)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Balanced scoring attack with SGA and JWilliams

Full Comparison

Attribute	Houston Rockets	Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	119.7	—
Three-Point Attempt Rate(% of total shots)	43%	—
Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	119.3	—
Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)	28.4	—
Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)	116.8	—
Points Per Game(PPG)	118.5	—

2025-26 Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	116.8	—
Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	108.5	—
Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)	8.9	—

All-Time Championships(titles)	0	0

Playoff Appearances (2015-2025)(seasons)	9	—
Finals Appearances (2015-2025)(times)	0	—
Conference Finals Reached (2015-2025)(times)	3	—

Average Team Payroll(millions USD)	$142M	—

Final Game Score(points)	116	—
Final Score(points)	126	—

Season Win-Loss Record(wins-losses)	Not publicly listed	—

Conference Ranking(seed)	Lower position	—

Field Goal Percentage (Game)(%)	48.1%	—

Lead Star Player Scoring Average(PPG)	Lower average	—
Second Leading Scorer Average(PPG)	Not specified	—
Aaron Gordon Points(points)	N/A	—

Recent Winning Streak(games)	Not on streak	—

Venue Renovation Status(text)	2025-26 seat upgrades completed	—

Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)	43-29	57-16
Conference Standing(Seed Position)	6th Seed	1st Seed
Wins-Losses Record(W-L)	48-22	—
2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)	56-26	—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)	26.0 (Durant)	33.4 (SGA)

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)	6.1 (Sengun)	10.9 (SGA)

Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)	8.9 (Sengun)	10+ (Holmgren)
Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)	47.1	—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)	108 points	110 points

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)	Led 80-74 after Q3	Led 52-46 at halftime

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)	Sheppard, Eason contributing 3-pointers	Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack

Win-Loss Record(games)	54-16	—
Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)	2nd (West)	—
Conference Rank(position)	1st (Western)	—

Three-Point Percentage(percent)	37.4%	—
3-Point Percentage(percent)	37.9%	—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)	28.1 (SGA)	—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)	28.3	—

Bench Scoring(points per game)	26.4	—

Average Points Per Game(points)	117.8	—

All-Star Selections(players)	3 All-Stars	—

Playoff Seed(position)	1st seed	—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)	N/A	—
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)	30.1 PPG	—

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)	105.8	—

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)	0	—

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)	2 of 5	—
Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)	47-22	—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)	109.3	—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)	30.2 (SGA)	—

Field Goal Percentage(%)	48.2%	—
Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)	N/A	—
Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)	N/A	—
Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)	N/A	—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	47.1	—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)	4	—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)	—

Average Team Age(years)	24.8	—

Coach Tenure(seasons)	6 seasons	—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)	Never	—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)	48-52	—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)	115.2	—

Location	Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK	—

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)	N/A	—

Game-Winning Play	Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129	—

Houston Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

119.7

—

Three-Point Attempt Rate(% of total shots)

43%

—

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

119.3

—

Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)

28.4

—

Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)

116.8

—

Points Per Game(PPG)

118.5

—

2025-26 Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

116.8

—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

108.5

—

Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)

8.9

—

All-Time Championships(titles)

Playoff Appearances (2015-2025)(seasons)

—

Finals Appearances (2015-2025)(times)

—

Conference Finals Reached (2015-2025)(times)

—

Average Team Payroll(millions USD)

$142M

—

Final Game Score(points)

116

—

Final Score(points)

126

—

Season Win-Loss Record(wins-losses)

Not publicly listed

—

Conference Ranking(seed)

Lower position

—

Field Goal Percentage (Game)(%)

48.1%

—

Lead Star Player Scoring Average(PPG)

Lower average

—

Second Leading Scorer Average(PPG)

Not specified

—

Aaron Gordon Points(points)

N/A

—

Recent Winning Streak(games)

Not on streak

—

Venue Renovation Status(text)

2025-26 seat upgrades completed

—

Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)

43-29

57-16

Conference Standing(Seed Position)

6th Seed

1st Seed

Wins-Losses Record(W-L)

48-22

—

2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)

56-26

—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)

26.0 (Durant)

33.4 (SGA)

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)

6.1 (Sengun)

10.9 (SGA)

Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)

8.9 (Sengun)

10+ (Holmgren)

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)

47.1

—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)

108 points

110 points

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)

Led 80-74 after Q3

Led 52-46 at halftime

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)

Sheppard, Eason contributing 3-pointers

Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack

Win-Loss Record(games)

54-16

—

Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)

2nd (West)

—

Conference Rank(position)

1st (Western)

—

Three-Point Percentage(percent)

37.4%

—

3-Point Percentage(percent)

37.9%

—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)

28.1 (SGA)

—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)

28.3

—

Bench Scoring(points per game)

26.4

—

Average Points Per Game(points)

117.8

—

All-Star Selections(players)

3 All-Stars

—

Playoff Seed(position)

1st seed

—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)

N/A

—

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)

30.1 PPG

—

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)

105.8

—

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)

—

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)

2 of 5

—

Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)

47-22

—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)

109.3

—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)

30.2 (SGA)

—

Field Goal Percentage(%)

48.2%

—

Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)

N/A

—

Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)

N/A

—

Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)

N/A

—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

47.1

—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)

—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)

—

Average Team Age(years)

24.8

—

Coach Tenure(seasons)

6 seasons

—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)

Never

—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)

48-52

—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)

115.2

—

Location

Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

—

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)

N/A

—

Game-Winning Play

Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129

—

Visual Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes

Pros & Cons

Houston Rockets

5 pros2 cons

Pros

Kevin Durant elite scoring (26.0 PPG average)
Alperen Sengun versatile two-way play (6.1 APG, 8.9 RPG)
Reed Sheppard emerging as reliable three-point shooter
Tari Eason defensive energy and three-point range
Toyota Center upgraded fan experience for 2025-26

Cons

6th seed positioning limits playoff seeding advantage
11-game deficit to Thunder indicates inconsistency

Oklahoma City Thunder

5 pros2 cons

Pros

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander elite MVP performance (33.4 PPG, 10.9 APG)
1st seed in Western Conference (57-16 record)
Chet Holmgren elite two-way play (10 RPG, defensive prowess)
Jalen Williams consistent scoring (28.6 PPG)
Dominant third-quarter performances demonstrated clutch execution

Cons

High expectations may increase playoff pressure
Recent loss to Boston shows vulnerability to elite opponents

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Frequently Asked Questions

In their 2025-26 matchup, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets 110-108 in a closely contested game. The Thunder held a 52-46 advantage at halftime, while Houston rallied in the third quarter to lead 80-74 before OKC pulled out the narrow victory.

Resources & Learn More

Dive deeper with these curated resources

Wikipedia

Houston Rockets on Wikipedia

NBA team competing in Western Conference with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun

Oklahoma City Thunder on Wikipedia

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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Last updated: March 28, 2026AI generated