Winners the day before the Hawks, the Rockets continue with a second success in 24 hours. This time, there was no suspense as Stephen Silas’ players won 118-105 after counting up to 22 points in advance! It was in the second quarter that Jalen Green and his teammates made the difference with a 29-9 in eight minutes. Sengun dominates under the panels and catches his opponents cold with his technique, while Green misses nothing from 3-pointers. At the break, Houston leads 65-44.
On returning from the locker room, the same scenario with a Green who put on a show with a “circus shot”, a “step back” from 3-pointers and above all this alley oop left hand that he will seek at an incredible height. Without forcing, the Rockets maintain this gap of around twenty points, and at the start of the 4th quarter, Eric Gordon even increases the gap to +25 (98-73). Thanks to an 8-0 in the last 80 seconds, the Thunder reduced the gap but there were two levels of difference between the two teams tonight.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Youth in action. Face to face, the two youngest teams in the NBA with an average age of 22.9 for OKC and 23.7 for Houston. At only 24 years old, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks like a “grandpa” at the Thunder.
– A perfect second quarter. Very skilful all evening, the Rockets made the break in the second quarter, winning 44 to 22. Under the panels, the Sengun-Eason pair signed an 8 of 8 on shots over this period, and the team displayed a magnificent 80% on shots, including 63% from 3-pointers.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Jalen Green. Interesting in defense the day before, Green was dazzling in attack, and we will remember his 3-point address. The scorer plants his first six 3-point shots! We also note that he distributes 9 passes, and it is his personal best.
✅Alperen Sengun. Absent the day before, the Turk made a thunderous comeback with a big double-double: 21 points and 19 rebounds. This is his personal best in rebounding and the atypical profile of the interiors of the Thunder corresponds to him perfectly.
✅Jabari Smith Jr. The 3rd choice of the Draft is better and better in the game, and its impact in defense is more and more felt. His 3-point address allows the game to be ruled out, and leaves the field open to Green’s “drives” or Sengun’s technique.
✅ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Leader of the Thunder, he signs a 14th game at 30 points and more, and no one has done better this season. He held the house in the 1st quarter but he lacked support.
⛔Tre Mann. An evening to forget for the lining of Josh Giddey with 1 of 11 on shots, including 0 of 9 from 3-pointers.
THE FOLLOWING
Houston (5-14) : trip to Denver on Monday.
OKC (8-12) : trip to New Orleans on Monday.
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