3 Studs, 2 duds from bounce-back Thunder victory over Rockets

The OKC Thunder put forth a stellar performance against the Houston Rockets, completely controlling the game through all four quarters en route to a 126-107 victory to start off a six-game homestand. 

After a disappointing loss against the Nuggets on Wednesday night, Oklahoma City needed to respond properly, and they did not disappoint the hometown crowd back in Paycom Center. 

Every member of the Thunder that played against Denver seemed to have improved their performance against Houston, especially Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso. However, though it might sound odd, there were still some things to critique in a blowout win like this one. 

Ranging from insane performances by stars, role players stepping up, and rookies that need time to improve and develop, there were many noteworthy takeaways from this matchup. 

Studs and Duds from Thunder bounce back victory 

Stud: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

No wonder a blowout win was led by the MVP hopeful, as he could be found everywhere on the court for the Thunder, finishing the night with 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

After a very shaky performance against Denver, where SGA finished with eight turnovers, the Thunder faithful were pleased to see him return to how he usually plays day in and night out, committing only three on Friday. 

What was most impressive from the superstar was the fact he was playing to his pace. Shai was not rushing his shots, playing too fast or slow, or even letting his defender direct the game. 

Instead, you would see it on many possessions that he would change his pace of play in an instant, especially when going in for a mid-range jump shot where Gilgeous-Alexander thrives. 

It was just a pleasing thing to see that he had an MVP-caliber game, especially after a tough break against Denver. 

Dud: Dillon Jones

Dillon Jones was one of the first players to come off the bench, which was quite a surprise to see.

With Houston having the clear size advantage, it made sense to have Jones in there with his long wingspan and huge build, but it may have not been the best decision due to his lack of experience. 

Immediately when the rookie entered the game, it was disappointing, as he missed his first few shots and looked a bit clumsy on the floor. 

Jones would finish the night with only one made bucket and missed all five of his 3-point attempts while being bullied on the defensive end of the floor, especially when in the paint. 

It just felt like, with their desire to get a bit bigger, the minutes would have been better off with Ousmane Dieng -- after all, he does have a 6-foot-10 frame. 

Stud: Alex Caruso 

The holiday season is approaching, and Loud City was treated with the gift of Alex Caruso finally making his shots. 

It seems the veteran has finally broken out of his shooting slump, going 3-for-5 from the field while tallying 10 points.

His first 3-ball would come off an assist by Aaron Wiggins, after Caruso was, unsurprisingly, the leading factor in a forced turnover for the Rockets, finally showing his impact on both ends of the floor.

The veteran is one of the best defenders in the league and is one of the better catch-and-shoot players, but it took a while for that to show during these early stages of his career.

Even though it is only one game of great shooting by the new Thunder guard, it is undoubtedly an encouraging sight to see him knocking down shots. 

Dud: First quarter defense

The only downside the entire unit had on Friday was the poor defensive play during the first quarter. 

Coming out of the initial 12 minutes of play, the team would find themselves tied up at 31 a piece. 

The scoring form of the Rockets came largely from Jalen Green, as Oklahoma City could find no answer to stop the young, promising guard, who dropped 10 points on 66.7 percent shooting during this span.

When they would back off and force him to shoot, Green would make the Thunder pay with his perimeter game. Guard him out on the perimeter, and the wing would use his superior athleticism and drive toward the rim. 

Fortunately, this would stop in the second quarter, as Oklahoma City would outscore their opponents 44-20 going into the half. 

Even though the hometown heroes came away on top, their defense needs to pick it up earlier in the game. 

Stud: Chet Holmgren 

Chet is continuing his rise to stardom not only on the defensive side of the ball, but also the offensive end. 

Even being outmatched in the strength and weight department against the likes of Alpren Sengun and former Thunder center Steven Adams, Holmgren still had an amazing outing. 

The second year center would come away with 29 points, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc and swatting 3 shots.

Though he only tallied 5 boards in his 29 minutes of play, Holmgren was still impacting that part of the game by boxing out his opponents, allowing guys like Isaiah Joe and Jalen Williams to crash in and make an impact on the glass themselves. 

Where Chet hurt the Rockets the most was at the free throw line, getting there 10 times and knocking down 9 of his attempts. 

With more of these performances, he'll definitely be able to make a case for earning his first All-Star nod!