Oklahoma City Thunder dropped to 119-98 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, absorbing their second loss in three days as injuries mount across their roster. The team played without Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace during the road defeat.
Houston Capitalizes on Depleted Thunder Rotation
The visiting Thunder struggled to match Houston’s offensive depth in the wake of mounting absences. Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 30 points, while Marcus Smart added 24 points. Alperen Sengun finished just shy of a triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shouldered the scoring load with 26 points.
Wembanyama Halloween Performance Propels Spurs Past Timberwolves
Victor Wembanyama celebrated Halloween at the Frost Bank Center by arriving in a The Witcher costume and scoring 43 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 121-111 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The French star converted 17 of 34 shots from the field, adding seven rebounds, six blocks, and four assists to secure San Antonio’s fourth win. Dylan Harper contributed 25 points for the hosts, who overcame a halftime deficit.
Minnesota played without Anthony Edwards, who is sidelined for two months following knee surgery, alongside Rudy Gobert, who missed the contest due to back spasms. Ayo Dosunmu paced the Timberwolves with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga and Jaden McDaniels chipped in 19 points apiece.
Memphis Grizzlies Stand Alone as League’s Last Unbeaten Team
Memphis Grizzlies improved to 6-0 on the young season with a 136-105 rout of the Sacramento Kings, standing as the NBA’s only undefeated team. Cameron Boozer led the Grizzlies with 27 points and nine rebounds, while the Memphis bench contributed 81 points in a dominant team performance. Darius Acuff Jr. scored 38 points for Sacramento, which remained winless alongside the Brooklyn Nets.
Around the League on Saturday Night
Philadelphia 76ers edged the Charlotte Hornets 109-104 behind 38 points from Tyrese Maxey, playing without LeBron James and Joel Embiid. Cleveland Cavaliers rolled past the Milwaukee Bucks 136-111, fueled by 27 points from Evan Mobley and 25 points from Jarrett Allen. Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Utah Jazz 112-90 in Salt Lake City, and the New Orleans Pelicans topped the Atlanta Hawks 121-99.
Standings and Injury Updates Moving Forward
The Thunder face a prolonged absence from Chet Holmgren, who sustained a small tear in the right patellar tendon of his right knee and will undergo biological treatment expected to keep him sidelined for eight to ten weeks. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs continue a three-game homestand at the AT&T Center.
Related reading
