The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets in dominant fashion on Thursday night, pulling away in the fourth quarter and ending the game with a final score of 111-91.
For a team that has dropped some games against inferior opponents as of late, this win over the Rockets was a massive sign they're getting back on track. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just 20 points on the night, Oklahoma City's complementary players put up enough of a performance to ultimately overcome Houston.
Their swarming defense proved to be insurmountable, holding the Rockets to under 100 points for just the second time this season.
Yet this win brings a little extra pleasure to long-time Thunder fans. Kevin Durant finished the night shooting just 7-of-23 from the field, posting 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Oklahoma City proved who the true contenders are, and they are about the get the last laugh at Durant's expense as a result.
The Rockets made a win now move, but Durant could end his career without cementing his legacy
When the Thunder made the Western Conference Finals in the 2015-16 season, it looked like everything was coming together. Durant and Russell Westbrook were among the league's elite players, and it seemed as though Oklahoma City was finally assembling the necessary pieces to truly contend with the Golden State Warriors for the Western Conference title.
Then, Durant left for Golden State in free agency, and it all came crashing down. The Thunder's current roster is a result of the reconstruction they accomplished in the wake of his departure.
Whatever you think about the titles Durant won with the Warriors, it's hard to argue that his legacy wouldn't be cemented by taking this young Houston team to the summit.
On Thursday night, the Thunder made clear why that's not happening, at least as long as they have something to say about it.
For all Western Conference teams, Oklahoma City is the mirror into which they must look to measure themselves as contenders. By most appearances, Houston would be a tough matchup in a playoff series. More than most teams, they have reason to believe they could stand a chance.
Their double-overtime defeat in the season opener left room for that belief.
Yet the Thunder absolutely dominated them in their second matchup when and where it mattered. They outscored the Rockets 34-16 in the fourth quarter, won the rebounding battle for the game 44-37, and shot 39% from 3-point range on the night.
Durant's sub-par performance was just the icing on the cake.
It's just one game, but it could prove to be indicative of the gap that remains between the two teams. If it does, Oklahoma City could force Durant's career to end on a whimper in Houston.