The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the Houston Rockets, the teams delivered an instant classic to open the NBA season.
Oklahoma City outlasted Houston 125–124 in double overtime on Oct. 21, a dramatic season opener that featured late-game heroics and heavy minutes from both sides.
The teams meet again Saturday night in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder continuing to navigate multiple injuries as they move through a difficult stretch of the schedule.
Thunder players out vs. Rockets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Injury/Illness; abdominal strainAjay Mitchell — Injury/Illness; abdominal strainJalen Williams — Injury/Illness; right hamstring strain
Gilgeous-Alexander remains sidelined until after the All-Star break with an abdominal strain. Williams has not played since Jan. 17 as he continues to recover from his hamstring injury.
No longer on the injury report
Alex Caruso — Right adductor; injury managementOusmane Dieng — Not with team (traded)Luguentz Dort — Right patellofemoral joint; inflammationIsaiah Hartenstein — Right eye; corneal abrasionChet Holmgren — Low back spasms
The updated report comes after Oklahoma City’s 116–106 loss Wednesday night to the San Antonio Spurs, a game in which the Thunder dressed only eight active players and were without their entire regular starting lineup.
Kenrich Williams led Oklahoma City with 25 points, while Jaylin Williams added 24 points and 12 rebounds. Aaron Wiggins finished with 20 points as the Thunder frontcourt accounted for 69 of the team’s points.
The Thunder have now won three of their last seven games.
Houston enters Saturday’s matchup after dropping back-to-back games following a stretch in which it won five of its previous six. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka expressed frustration after recent home losses to Boston and Charlotte.
Saturday marks the second meeting between the Thunder and Rockets this season, with Oklahoma City aiming to recreate the late-game execution that helped secure the double-overtime win in the opener — this time with a reshuffled lineup as injuries continue to test the roster.