In an exciting match on February 7, 2026, the Houston Rockets triumphed over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 112-106. This victory was highlighted by Tari Eason's impressive performance, where he recorded a season-high of 26 points. The Rockets showcased their skills against a Thunder team that was missing key players due to injuries.
Alperen Sengun had a remarkable game as well, achieving his second triple-double of the season and the tenth of his career, contributing 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. also made a notable impact with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while superstar Kevin Durant added 20 points to the scoreboard.
On the other side, Cason Wallace led the Thunder with 23 points, supported by Isaiah Joe's contribution of 21 points. Unfortunately for Oklahoma City, they were again without their star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, who is sidelined due to an abdominal strain and is expected to miss time until after the All-Star break. Additionally, the Thunder are also coping with the absence of 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams and up-and-coming guard Ajay Mitchell, who was anticipated to shine during the Rising Stars showcase at All-Star Weekend.
This game marked the debut of Jared McCain with Oklahoma City, having recently joined the team through a trade with Philadelphia. He entered the game late in the first quarter to enthusiastic applause from the crowd and managed to score five points in his 14 minutes on the court.
Interestingly, the atmosphere in the arena was charged with mixed emotions, as Oklahoma City fans expressed their frustration towards Durant, who left the Thunder almost a decade ago to join the Golden State Warriors. The boos echoed during the pregame introductions, and the crowd erupted in cheers when he missed two free throws in the second quarter, which is unusual for him given his reputation as an outstanding shooter from the charity stripe.
McCain made his first basket for the Thunder around nine minutes into the second quarter, following a spectacular alley-oop assist from Joe to Wallace, giving Oklahoma City a 46-32 advantage. They went into halftime leading 52-46, buoyed by Chet Holmgren’s double-double performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The second half saw Houston take control, outscoring Oklahoma City and leading 80-74 as they headed into the final quarter. Although Durant was not very aggressive in seeking shots, he managed to score a crucial jumper to extend the Rockets' lead to 107-101 with just over a minute left in the game.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers at home on Tuesday, while the Thunder will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers on Monday.
