Houston Rockets Silence Oklahoma City Thunder 111-102

I didn’t see one lick of Houston Rockets basketball last night.

It seemed as if from the tip, the Rockets had checked out and weren’t as focused as they normally were.

They absolutely played down to their competition thinking that they’d just roll over and allow them to win.

Not this day in age.

Not now, not ever.

The Orlando Magic played extremely hard and gave the Rockets all they could handle for four quarters.

As the Rockets would give half-effort to get themselves within striking distance, the Magic continued to push exponentially to keep the Rockets at bay.

The team just got outplayed last night and it wasn’t pretty.

Even when the team was down by 14 points at one point in the game, I still felt that they had a chance to win the game.

Hell, it wasn’t until the 3rd quarter until the Rockets took their first lead of the game!

Because of that said effort, the Rockets found themselves on the short-end of the stick last night.

But enough about that — the Rockets now had to focus on their next opponent as conference nemesis — the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This time around, the Rockets took no prisoners and made sure that they protected their own house.

And that they did.

Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Trevor Ariza

(1) and guard

James Harden

(13) defend Oklahoma City Thunder forward

Kevin Durant

(35) in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

At the start of the 1st quarter, the Thunder jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after two jump shots from Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams.

But it was James Harden who busted open a huge 16-0 run before with a three-pointer and culminated with two Dwight Howard dunks. The first was another alley-oop from Donatas Motiejunas — which becoming frequent as of late — with other slamming his way to help the Rockets lead by 12 with 7:24 left. Rockets 16, Thunder 4

In between the Beard and D12 on that said run? A svelte jump hook by D-Mo and a smooth-like-silk three-pointer by Patrick Beverley!

After Russell Westbrook hit two free throws off a Patrick Beverley foul, the Rockets went on another 7-0 run to lead the Thunder 23-6 after a D12 dunk with 5:58 left.

The Rockets pushed their lead up further by as much as 24 points after Kostas Papanikolaou sunk a three with 1:08 left. Rockets 40, Thunder 16

Kendrick Perkins and Morrow had some opportunities at the free throw to convert off the Rockets fouls but only converted half of their attempts for two points to end the first quarter. Rockets 40, Thunder 18

The Rockets pushed their lead back up to 26 points after another D-Mo jump hook with 6:32 left in the half, their largest lead of the game at that point. Rockets 52, Thunder 36

Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center

Kendrick Perkins

(5) and forward Kevin Durant (35) fight for a rebound against Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) in the second half at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 112 to 101. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Thunder did cut their deficit within 10 points after a Kevin Durant dunk with 43 seconds left. Rockets 63, Thunder 53

On the next possession, after an Ibaka foul, Howard converted one out of two attempts to put the Rockets up 64-53 at the half.

In their last meeting against the Thunder Nov. 16th, they had scored 69 total points in that contest. They were already prepared to eclipse that amount in just the 1st half this time around!

The third quarter was another of dominance but the Thunder did get within 10 points of the Rockets lead with 6:05 left after Adams converted both of his free throws off a Howard foul. Rockets 75, Thunder 65

But the Rockets went on another 7-0 run with Ariza driving to the basket, Beverley hitting a floater, and the Beard hitting a three to put the Rockets back up by 17 points with 4:14 left. That three that Harden hit was an incredible, off-balance shot that made me get on my feet! Rockets 82, Thunder 65

The Rockets would then ease their way to the end of the third leading the Thunder 88-75.

It was more of the same for the 4th quarter and the Rockets were up as much as by 19 points when Ariza hit a three-ball with three minutes to go. Rockets 108, Thunder 91

By then, Kevin McHale had already emptied his bench and the Rockets sailed their way to a 112-101 win!

Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Donatas Motiejunas

(20) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder forward

Serge Ibaka

(9) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Harden led all scorers with 31 points, 10 dimes, nine rebounds including 9-for-15 shooting from the field, 6-f0r-8 from behind-the-arc and 7-for-9 from the charity stripe.

It was a balanced attack from the rest of the starting five in addition to Josh Smith, who continues to flourish in his new role coming off the bench.

It’s also important to note that this is the Rockets’ 11th game where they hit 15+ three-pointers or more as a team.

As you know, when the three-ball is falling, we usually win!

And so we did.

Nicely done and what a bounce-back from last night!