Rockets vs Thunder Live: Houston Leads 35-26 After the First Quarter at Toyota Center
Houston's fast start has the Rockets up nine after one quarter on Oklahoma City in a meeting of two teams trying to shake off losses to Dallas - Kevin Durant against his old franchise, with three quarters left to settle it.
HOUSTON - The Rockets came out running. Houston leads the Oklahoma City Thunder 35-26 at the end of the first quarter at Toyota Center, an early nine-point cushion in the nightcap of Halloween's NBA slate.
The matchup needs no selling in this building: Kevin Durant, facing the franchise where he became a star, leads a Houston starting five of Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, Marcus Smart and Amen Thompson. Oklahoma City counters with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell. Houston is playing short-handed, without Steven Adams, Reed Sheppard and Fred VanVleet.
Both teams arrived annoyed. Houston (5-1) took its first loss of the season Friday night, 116-111 at Dallas, on the second night of a back-to-back stretch that ends tonight. Oklahoma City (4-1) was beaten 120-96 at Dallas on Wednesday. Somebody's bounce-back starts with this game, and through one quarter it is Houston's.
Three quarters remain, and a nine-point first-quarter lead against Gilgeous-Alexander is a lead, not a result. This station files the final within 45 minutes of the buzzer.
