'I Thought It Was Great': Rockets Extend Win Streak Behind Improved Playmaking and Resiliency vs. Thunder

The Houston Rockets displayed two major attributes that showcased the team's growth amid their overtime victory vs. the Thunder.

Mar 27, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives to the / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder by one (109-108) with 29.0 seconds left in regulation. Jalen Green had the ball in his hands and attacked downhill, forcing the Thunder's defense to collapse.

Green dished a pass to Jabari Smith Jr., who nailed an open triple to put the Rockets ahead by one. The shot played a massive role in helping Houston take a 132-126 overtime victory inside the Paycom Center. But more importantly, the play demonstrated how the Rockets have grown individually and as a team during their 10-game winning streak.

Mar 27, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives to the / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

"I saw him going aggressive to the rim like he has been doing all night," Smith told reporters after the game. "They collapsed, as they should, and it left me open in the corner. I was able to knock it down."

From the moment the Thunder's defense started to collapse, Smith knew he would have a chance to knock down one of the most important shots of his young career. His belief came amid Green's growth as a playmaker, who has enhanced his ability to go through his on-court reads and progressions.

Green scored 37 points on an efficient 14 of 24 shooting from the field, 7 of 11 from behind the arc. But his six of seven assists recorded between the fourth quarter and overtime displayed his growth and maturity as a facilitator.

"Just being patient," Green said. "Early on, I felt like I was getting off of it and trying to attack while seeing what was opening for me. But as the game kept going, I started getting inside, which made it a lot easier.

"I knew I had [Jabari] once I got two feet into the paint. I knew their game plan was to collapse the paint and bring everyone over. Jabari is known for that. I will trust Jabari with that all day long. He was wide open and did what he does."

The Thunder forced Green to become a playmaker down the stretch due to their defensive scheme to double-team the third-year guard, who scored 27 points through the first three quarters.

Green's playmaking is one of several improvements he made during his first season of learning under coach Ime Udoka. He spent the entire year trying to meet Udoka's demands to find different ways to impact the game beyond his scoring.

He struggled during the first 54 games. But since the All-Star break, Green's all-around performances have helped the Rockets post the league's third-best post-All-Star record at 13-5.

"The first two or three times, it took a second for him [Green] to recognize [the double-team] and get off of it," Udoka said. "There was one turnover too many. But I trust him. He has done a good job against traps and blitzes lately. He trusts his guys to find the pocket and get them the numbers...Great pass. Great growth. I am proud of them for that play."

So many big shots late in the game for the #Rockets

Including 2 huge 3's from Jabari Smith Jr.@HoustonRockets beat OKC in OT 132-126 pic.twitter.com/oDslFNYsyd

— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) March 28, 2024

When the Rockets defeated the Utah Jazz Saturday night, Udoka noted he was proud that Green stayed "resilient and continued to be confident when things were not going great” earlier in the year. Udoka's statement highlighted the growth of his rising star, but his message coincided with his team as a whole.

The Rockets blew an early 14-point lead to the Thunder and trailed 50-49 at the half. Josh Giddey scored 15 of his season-best 31 points during the third quarter. The Thunder held an eight-point lead and the momentum at 10:36 left in the fourth quarter.

Houston kept its poise and showed resiliency down the stretch, outscoring the Thunder 50-36 during the final 15 minutes.

Dillon Brooks began the overtime period by connecting on two of his three-made triples, each assisted by Green. Before the extra period, Brooks had missed seven of his eight attempts from behind the arc.

The mid-game collapse and subpar offensive execution the Rockets sustained against the Thunder would have resulted in a disappointing defeat earlier in the season. However, their ability to stay the course during a near comeback by the Thunder demonstrated the team's perseverance.

The two significant attributes the Rockets displayed against the Thunder led to the team improving their league-best record of 12-1 in March. Following their victory against Oklahoma City, the Rockets remain a game behind the Golden State Warriors for the 10th and final Play-In Tournament spot in the Western Conference.

"I thought it was great," Green said. "I feel like we have been having games like that, where we showed a lot of poised recently. That's just growth right there from everybody. We all stepped up when we needed to on defense and hit shots. We got the win.

"We are a good team. We showed that early on in the season but dropped a little bit. We showed that we are dogs. We are competitors."