Rockets answer critical question in dominant win over Thunder

There is skepticism surrounding the Houston Rockets.

Sure, they've had a fantastic 2024-25 season. The Rockets have surpassed expectations, and when that happens, expectations shift. The Rockets have answered questions about their ability to make a playoff run, and it seems likely that they'll prove their ability to secure a high seed.

What can they do once they get to the postseason?

Soon, they'll answer that question, too. The Rockets are en route to the playoffs. Can they beat the best teams in the league?

On Friday, they gave a partial answer to that question as well.

Rockets shine in dominant win over Thunder

The Thunder aren't merely "one of the best" teams in the NBA. They've been the best team by a comfortable margin in 2024-25.

Against the Rockets, it didn't matter.

The Rockets rolled to a 125-11 victory. They were firing on all cylinders. Jalen Green had 34 points and 5 assists. Alperen Sengun had 31 points. Amen Thompson chipped in 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Thunder could not stop anybody.

Houston went back to its double big man lineup for long stretches. It worked. Steven Adams had 8 points and 12 rebounds in 23 minutes. This was a viable strategy against a Thunder team that likes to play big with a tandem of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren. Sengun and Adams were able to roughly match their height while gaining a considerable advantage in sheer strength.

That's kind of the entire point here.

Rockets match up with league's best

The Rockets were able to run a lineup to counter the best team in the NBA. Let's not understate the significance of this.

Does this mean that the Rockets will beat the Thunder in this year's Western Conference Finals? No. The Rockets would be lucky to get that far. If they did - barring injuries - the Rockets would be exceedingly lucky to beat the Thunder. One game doesn't change that reality.

It should be noted that the Rockets won this game without Dillon Brooks, who was serving a one-game suspension. With no disrespect intended to Brooks, the offense appeared more fluid in his absence. That said, he's been vital to their success this season. Winning this game without Brooks is interesting, but it doesn't lead to a strong conclusion in either direction.

He'll be back for the playoffs. The Rockets won't face the Thunder in the first round. It holds true that whoever they draw, it's going to be a challenge. Still, Friday's contest showed us that the Rockets can hang with anybody.

Soon, they'll need to prove that in a playoff setting.