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October 16, 2026 at 10:34 PM UTC

Postgame Report

Rockets Rout Thunder 116-89 as OKC Closes Out Its Preseason

Houston led by as many as 29 in a 116-89 win over Oklahoma City, which finished its preseason 1-4 with Opening Night five days away.

Houston Rockets defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 116–89.
Houston Rockets defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 116–89.

The Thunder's preseason ended Thursday night in Houston the way few teams would choose, with a 116-89 loss to the Rockets in the last tune-up before the real schedule begins. Opening Night is five days off, and Oklahoma City will leave Toyota Center with more to sort out than it probably expected after two weeks of exhibition games.

The game was never in much doubt. Houston pulled away steadily and led by as many as 29, and the 27-point final margin left little room to call it anything but a rout. The Thunder had gone into the night 1-3 and came out of it 1-4, a record that means little in October but is still not how anyone in that locker room wanted to finish.

Jalen Williams was the steadiest of the Thunder's starters, with 18 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 17 points and three assists, though he played only a little over 25 minutes and grabbed one rebound. That is the usual preseason arithmetic for a star, and it left Oklahoma City short on scoring behind those two. Brooks Barnhizer's nine off the bench was the next best total.

Houston spread the work around. Alperen Sengun finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in under 25 minutes, and the Rockets kept getting contributions as the lead grew. The Thunder now turn to the regular season having learned little from this one except what they would like to fix first.

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