Eric Gordon, Tari Eason help Rockets defeat Thunder 112-106

HOUSTON (AP)— Eric Gordon had a season-high 25 points and rookie Tari Easonadded career-high 20 to lead the Houston Rockets to a 112-106 winover the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

The Rockets(13-38), who have the worst record in the Western Conference, havewon three of their last five games after dropping 18 of theprevious 19.

Eason, the17th overall pick in the 2022 draft, also had 13 rebounds off thebench, matching a career best on a night Jalen Green sat out withan injury.

Coach StephenSilas credited Gordon for keeping this young team focused when thegame was close down the stretch.

“Eric tonightwas so steady and when we went down five or six he was the onesettling the guys down, and that’s important,” Silas said. “Thatveteran presence … was huge tonight.”

Gordon, whois in his 15th NBA season, takes pride in helping his inexperiencedteammates.

“My mentalityis all about winning,” he said. “And for me it’s all about justgiving these young guys confidence.”

Houston wasup by five after consecutive baskets by Josh Christopher before theThunder got a free throw from Darius Bazley and a jump shot fromShai Gilgeous-Alexander to get within 100-98 with about fourminutes left.

But theRockets scored the next five points, with a 3 from Kenyon MartinJr., to push the lead to seven about a minute later. Gordon missedtwo free throws after that, and Gilgeous-Alexander made two forOklahoma City, cutting the lead to 105-100.

But DaishenNix made a layup before Martin had a two-handed dunk seconds laterto extend Houston’s lead to 109-100 with less than a minute togo.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points to lead the Thunder and JoshGiddey scored 20 with eight rebounds and eight assists.

“The bestthing Houston did tonight was the way they were ready to play fromthe jump.” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

Silas wasimpressed with his team’s defense on Gilgeous-Alexander, whoentered the game ranked fifth in the NBA by averaging 30.9points.

“It was ateam effort,” Silas said.

Tre Mannopened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to extend OklahomaCity’s lead to five points. But Houston got consecutive 3s fromGarrison Mathews and Eason after that to go on top 90-89.

Eason got asteal a couple of minutes later and drove in for a layup, butmissed. It was the first of four straight misses — and fourrebounds — by Eason on that possession as he kept grabbing reboundsand missing shots at the rim until finally making a fifth shot thathe was fouled on. He made the free throw to put Houston up93-89.

“That justshows the fight that we had at that moment of the game,” Silassaid.

Eason saidthe moment was both fun and exhausting.

“It’s alittle bit of both,” he said. “Any time I step on the court, I wantto bring a lot of energy, a lot of hustle and that’s just what Ido.”

Houston wasup by eight after baskets by Gordon and Martin early in the thirdquarter before the Thunder used a 9-0 run, with seven points fromJaylin Williams, to take a 72-71 lead.

Their leadwas short-lived as the Rockets made the next four points to go backon top 75-72 midway through the quarter.

Oklahoma Cityused a 7-0 run after that, with a 3 from Isaiah Joe, to take a79-75 lead with about four minutes left in the third.

The game wastied later in the third before Gilgeous-Alexander made all theThunder’s points in a 7-1 spurt, capped by a three-point play, toput them up 86-80.

The Rocketsscored the last four points of the quarter to cut the lead to twoentering the fourth.

TIP-INS

Thunder:Luguentz Dort sat out for a third straight game with a strainedright hamstring. … Mann had 18 points off the bench. … OklahomaCity made 12 of 43 3-pointers.

Rockets:Green missed a second straight game with a bruised right calf.Coach Stephen Silas said he’s getting better and should return thisweekend. … Kevin Porter Jr. was out for a 10th consecutive gamewith a bruised left foot. … Martin had 18 points and sevenrebounds. … Sengun had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

BOARDS

The Rocketsoutrebounded Oklahoma City 65-52 Wednesday. They’ve won therebounding battle in each of their three recent wins, with Sengunand Eason leading the way.

“With thoseguys rebounding the way they are, they’re always going to give us achance,” Gordon said.

UPNEXT

Thunder: Facethe Rockets again on Saturday night.

Rockets: HostToronto on Friday night.