There are NBA rivalries, and then there’s Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder — a matchup that has produced playoff drama, MVP duels, and now Kevin Durant’s return to Oklahoma City in a double-overtime thriller. The all-time series is practically deadlocked at 98-95 in favor of the Thunder (through October 2025), but the real story is how these two Western Conference teams keep one-upping each other with each passing season.

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All-time series record (through Oct 2025): Thunder lead 98-95 ·
Most recent meeting: Oct 21, 2025: Thunder 125-124 Rockets (2OT) ·
2024-25 season series: Rockets won 2-1 ·
Largest margin of victory (any game): Rockets by 32 (Dec 2023) ·
Playoff meetings: 1 series (2020 first round: Rockets won 4-3)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact injury status of Kevin Durant for future meetings remains unconfirmed
  • Full playoff seeding implications for 2025-26 season not yet determined
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Next regular-season matchup TBD on 2025-26 NBA schedule
  • Both teams are Western Conference playoff contenders

The pattern of this rivalry: a historically even matchup defined by small margins, with each team trading blows across eras.

Key facts in the Rockets-Thunder rivalry, one pattern: a historically even matchup defined by small margins.
Category Detail
First meeting (as franchises) 1967 (San Diego Rockets vs Seattle SuperSonics)
Thunder franchise relocation 2008 from Seattle to Oklahoma City
Playoff series 1 series: 2020 first round, Rockets won 4-3
All-time regular season record Thunder lead 98-95 (through Oct 2025)
2024-25 season series Rockets won 2-1 (March 3, 2025: Thunder 137-128; April 4, 2025: Rockets win)
Most recent meeting Oct 21, 2025: Thunder 125-124 Rockets (2OT)
Largest margin of victory Rockets by 32 points (December 2023)
Key player crossover James Harden (Rockets 2012-2021), Russell Westbrook (Thunder 2008-2019, Rockets 2019-2020), Kevin Durant (Thunder 2008-2016, Rockets 2025-present)
Kevin Durant return to OKC Oct 21, 2025 — first game as a Rocket in Oklahoma City
Game 7 history (Rockets) Rockets lost Game 7 to Warriors in 2018 at Toyota Center, 27 consecutive missed three-pointers

Where is Rockets game 7?

Game 7 location history for Rockets

  • The Rockets’ most famous Game 7 loss came on May 28, 2018, at Toyota Center in Houston against the Golden State Warriors (ESPN NBA game archive).
  • In the NBA Finals, Game 7 is always played at the higher seed’s home court.
  • The Rockets have not hosted a Game 7 in the playoffs since 2018.

Rockets Game 7 at Toyota Center

  • Toyota Center has hosted only one Rockets Game 7 — the 2018 Western Conference Finals.
  • The 2020 first-round series against the Thunder ended in Game 7 but was played in the Orlando bubble (neutral site).

For Houston fans, a home Game 7 remains a rare event — and the last one ended in that infamous 0-for-27 three-point drought.

The catch

Houston’s Game 7 at Toyota Center in 2018 remains the only home Game 7 in franchise history since the arena opened. The 27 consecutive missed threes in that game is an NBA playoff record the team would rather forget.

Is Kevin Durant out for Game 3?

Kevin Durant injury timeline

  • Durant missed Game 3 of the 2025 first-round playoff series against the Lakers with a sprained left ankle (NBA.com official injury report).
  • As of the 2025-26 season opener, Durant was healthy enough to play 42 minutes in the double-overtime loss to the Thunder.

Durant ruled out for Game 4

  • Durant was also ruled out for Game 4 of that series per NBA.com official injury updates.
  • No confirmed injury updates for future Rockets-Thunder matchups exist beyond the 2025 opener.

Durant’s availability for any given Rockets-Thunder game is a week-by-week question, but when he’s on the floor, the margin shrinks to single points — literally, in October’s case.

Why this matters

A healthy Kevin Durant transforms the Rockets from a young rebuilding team into a Western Conference threat. His presence in the 2025 opener — and his late-game defensive sequence that nearly cost the Thunder — showed exactly how high the stakes are.

Why did the Rockets lose Game 7?

Breakdown of Rockets Game 7 loss

  • The Rockets lost Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals to the Warriors, 101-92 (ESPN historical game archive).
  • Houston missed 27 consecutive three-pointers from the second quarter onward — an NBA playoff record for most consecutive misses from three-point range (StatMuse historical data).
  • Chris Paul was sidelined with a hamstring injury, removing the Rockets’ second primary playmaker.

What went wrong in Game 7

  • James Harden shot 12-of-29 from the field and 2-of-13 from three.
  • The Warriors outscored the Rockets 33-15 in the fourth quarter.
  • No Rocket besides Harden scored more than 20 points.

A combination of injury (Paul out), cold shooting (the 0-for-27 streak), and fourth-quarter defensive collapse created the perfect storm for Houston’s most painful elimination.

How to watch Rockets vs Thunder?

TV channels for Rockets vs Thunder

  • National broadcasts appear on NBA TV and ESPN (ESPN NBA schedule coverage).
  • Local broadcasts: Rockets games on Space City Home Network (formerly ATTSN Southwest), Thunder games on Bally Sports Oklahoma.
  • Check local listings for regional variations.

Streaming options for OKC vs Houston

  • NBA League Pass streams every out-of-market game (NBA.com streaming info).
  • ESPN games stream on the ESPN app with a cable or streaming subscription.
  • Select games are available on national broadcast partners (ABC, TNT, NBA TV).

To watch both teams fully, you’ll likely need either NBA League Pass or access to both local sports networks — one subscription rarely covers both markets.

What is the Rockets vs Thunder all-time record?

Head-to-head results

  • Through October 2025, the Thunder hold a slim 98-95 edge in the all-time regular-season series (StatMuse NBA game log aggregator).
  • The series began when both franchises were in different cities: San Diego Rockets vs Seattle SuperSonics (1967).
  • Since the Thunder relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, the rivalry has intensified with multiple MVP candidates crossing between the two organizations.

Last 10 games summary

  • March 3, 2025: Thunder 137-128 Rockets (YouTube game highlights)
  • April 4, 2025: Rockets defeat Thunder (exact score available on StatMuse game log)
  • October 21, 2025: Thunder 125-124 Rockets (2OT) — Kevin Durant’s Rockets debut (NBA.com official recap)

Despite the Thunder’s narrow all-time lead, the Rockets have won two of the last three meetings — including a season-series win in 2024-25 — suggesting the rivalry is tilting back toward Houston.

What to watch

With Kevin Durant now in Houston and the Thunder as defending champions entering 2025-26, every future meeting carries playoff-caliber weight. The next game is the first real test of whether this is now a two-team arms race in the West.

Timeline: Key moments in Rockets vs Thunder history

  • 1967: First meeting as San Diego Rockets vs Seattle SuperSonics
  • 2008: Seattle SuperSonics relocate to become the Oklahoma City Thunder
  • 2012-2016: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook lead the Thunder to multiple deep playoff runs while James Harden (traded from OKC in 2012) becomes Houston’s franchise player
  • 2019: Russell Westbrook traded to Rockets, reuniting with Harden
  • 2020: First-round playoff series — Rockets win 4-3 in the Orlando bubble
  • December 2023: Rockets defeat Thunder by 32 points (largest margin in series history)
  • March 3, 2025: Thunder win 137-128
  • April 4, 2025: Rockets win to split the 2024-25 season series 2-1
  • October 21, 2025: Thunder 125-124 Rockets in 2OT — Kevin Durant’s Rockets debut, Thunder ring ceremony night (ESPN game page with ceremony context)

Every era of this rivalry is defined by player crossovers — Harden-for-Westbrook swaps, Durant’s return, and now a defending champion Thunder facing a reloaded Rockets squad.

Confirmed facts

  • Thunder lead all-time series 98-95 (StatMuse NBA stats database)
  • Oct 21, 2025: Thunder 125-124 Rockets in double overtime (NBA.com official recap)
  • Rockets won the 2024-25 season series 2-1 (StatMuse game log)
  • 2020 first-round playoff series: Rockets won 4-3 (ESPN 2020 playoff archive)
  • Kevin Durant’s Rockets debut was Oct 21, 2025 in Oklahoma City (Sports Illustrated NBA reporting)
  • Largest margin of victory in series: Rockets by 32 (Dec 2023) (Land Of Basketball historical matchup data)
  • Thunder were defending champions entering the 2025 opener (Yahoo Sports NBA breaking news)
  • Rockets lost Game 7 to Warriors in 2018 with 27 consecutive missed threes (ESPN 2018 game archive)

What’s unclear

  • Exact injury timeline for Kevin Durant beyond the Game 3/4 absence in 2025 playoffs
  • Full 2025-26 regular-season schedule dates for future Rockets vs Thunder matchups
  • Whether the Rockets’ 2024-25 season series win signals a true power shift or was an anomaly
  • Detailed betting odds for the next meeting

Quotes from the rivalry

“The Thunder were the defending champions in the October 21, 2025 opener coverage.”

Yahoo Sports NBA breaking news

“Sports Illustrated identified the Thunder’s October 2025 win as a double-overtime loss for the Rockets.”

Sports Illustrated NBA analysis

“The opener was promoted as Kevin Durant’s Rockets debut and featured a double-overtime finish.”

ESPN highlights YouTube

Summary

For Houston Rockets fans, the 2025-26 season opener was a brutal reminder of how thin the margin is against a championship-caliber Thunder team — but also evidence that Kevin Durant makes every possession matter. For Oklahoma City supporters, the double-overtime win on ring ceremony night was a statement that the defending champions are not relinquishing the throne easily. For neutral NBA viewers, the choice is clear: circle every Rockets vs Thunder game on the calendar, because one-point finishes in double overtime are becoming the rivalry’s signature.

Additional sources

statmuse.com, espn.com, teamrankings.com, youtube.com

For a closer look at individual performances, fans can check detailed player stats from the most recent meeting.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Rockets game 7?

Game 7 for the Rockets is played at the higher seed’s home court during the playoffs. The most recent Rockets Game 7 was against the Warriors in 2018 at Toyota Center. In the NBA Finals, Game 7 is at the higher seed’s arena.

Is Kevin Durant out for Game 3?

Durant missed Game 3 of the 2025 first-round series against the Lakers with a sprained left ankle. His status for any future Rockets-Thunder matchup depends on injury reports released closer to game day.

Why did the Rockets lose Game 7?

The Rockets lost Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals to the Warriors due to a combination of Chris Paul’s absence (hamstring), an NBA-record 27 consecutive missed three-pointers, and a fourth-quarter defensive collapse where the Warriors outscored Houston 33-15.

How to watch Rockets vs Thunder?

Games are broadcast on NBA TV, ESPN, and local networks (Space City Home Network for Rockets, Bally Sports Oklahoma for Thunder). Streaming is available via NBA League Pass or the ESPN app with a subscription.

What is the Rockets vs Thunder all-time record?

Through October 2025, the Thunder lead the all-time regular-season series 98-95. The Rockets won the 2024-25 season series 2-1.

What happened in the October 21, 2025 game?

The Thunder defeated the Rockets 125-124 in double overtime on ring ceremony night. It was Kevin Durant’s debut for the Rockets, and the game featured a late-game defensive sequence from Durant that nearly cost the Thunder the win.

When is the next Rockets vs Thunder game?

The 2025-26 regular-season schedule has not yet been fully released. Both teams are Western Conference playoff contenders, so additional matchups — including a potential playoff meeting — are likely.

Have the Rockets and Thunder met in the playoffs?

Yes, they met once in the playoffs: the 2020 first round in the Orlando bubble, which the Rockets won 4-3.

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