Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder 2026: NBA Rivalry & Season Preview

The Houston Rockets (Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green) and OKC Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren) are building toward Western Conference dominance. OKC is the elite team now — SGA is an MVP candidate and the Thunder's system is mature. Houston is a year or two behind, with Şengün approaching his prime and the roster solidifying around him. By 2027-28, this matchup could be the Western Conference's defining playoff rivalry. In the 2026-27 season, expect OKC to win the season series 3-1 but the games to be closer than the record suggests.