Rockets at Thunder
When/where: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Paycom Center, Oklahoma City. TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM, 1010 AM and 93.3 FM (Spanish).
So far: Rockets 4-16; Thunder 6-14.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
Can the Rockets make 3s on the road?
1 The Rockets’ offensive surge was built in large parts on far better perimeter shooting. But Oklahoma City will test that, as the Thunder did in the first half of the 102-89 loss to the Rockets on Monday. OKC swarmed to the lane to help cut off paint scoring, limiting Houston to just 18 first-half points in the paint, six fewer than it averages. That is not unusual for the Thunder, who allow fewer points in the paint than all but three teams. That left 3-pointers open, but the Rockets made just 8 of 29 in the first half. They turned that around in the second half, sinking a healthy 7 of 17 from deep, building a 21-point lead that is their largest since they led by 35 in the first meeting with the Thunder. But when the Rockets previously played in Oklahoma City, they made just 35.6 percent of their shots, 28.6 percent of their 3-pointers, scoring just 89 points, trailing by as much as 17 and never leading. The Thunder allow the fewest fast-break points in the league and the second fewest second-chance points. They will find out if the Rockets can shoot better than their 30.8 percent 3-point shooting on the road this season.
What Christian Wood career best will be next?
2 Wood had a career high for assists against the Bulls, for points against the Hornets and for rebounds against the Thunder. He might have to block seven shots to keep that streak going. The Rockets would be happy if he can just keep producing as he has. Seemingly unlocked at center and running loads of pick-and-rolls with Kevin Porter Jr., Wood has averaged 24.3 points and 15.7 rebounds in his past three games. His confidence has seemed to have surged since he’s making 56 percent of his shots, 58.3 percent of his 3s and even 76.9 percent of his free throws. His three blocked shots Monday matched his season high and along with his 24 points, 21 rebounds and three 3-pointers, made him the fifth player in NBA history to reach those numbers in the same game. His next career high, however, would require a significant increase.
Second unit stops.
3 In a game in which the Thunder generally shot terribly, the Rockets’ reserves could not get stops to protect the Houston lead. The Thunder had made just 17 of 57 (29.8 percent) in the game before the bench began checking in in the third quarter. Oklahoma City made 7 of 13 shots in the rest of the quarter and its first two shots of the fourth quarter. The Rockets’ starters began returning and answered the run, but Houston will likely need its reserves to step up defensively.
Which Tate and which Dort will show?
4 In the Rockets’ two wins against the Thunder, Jae’Sean Tate has made 13 of 21 shots, averaging 15.5 points, 10 rebounds and 6.5 assists. In the Thunder win against the Rockets in Oklahoma City, Lu Dort made 15 of 21 shots, scoring a career-high 34 points with eight rebounds. Tate played well in the game in Paycom Center, but Dort went 3 of 9 in the first loss to the Rockets and 3 of 10 on Monday. They don’t match up, especially now that the Rockets have Tate back at power forward in their smaller lineup. But they play with similar physical tenacity and intensity that can be overlooked indications of how the teams will play.
First team to score wins?
5 There were no lead changes in the past two games between the Rockets and Thunder. That likely speaks more to the difficulty scoring on the other team’s floor than anything else. The Rockets posted 89 points in Oklahoma City and the Thunder 89 in Houston. Chances are both will be more effective offensively than that. But if either team builds a sizable lead — the Rockets led by 35 and 21 in their wins against the Thunder and Oklahoma City led by 17 in the win against the Rockets — it is questionable if the two worst offensive teams in the NBA this season will have the firepower for a comeback. The Thunder did rally from down 16 and 19 in consecutive games to top the Spurs and Lakers last month.
INJURY/STATUS REPORT
Rockets: Guards John Wall, Jalen Green (strained left hamstring), D.J. Augustin (health and safety protocols) and forward Usman Garuba (bruised right thigh) are out. Thunder: Forwards Kenrich Williams (sprained right ankle), Gabriel Deck (G League assignment) and center Derrick Favors (illness) are out. Forward/center Mike Muscala (sore right ankle) is questionable.