Houston advances while the Thunder ask more of their remaining rotation
Oklahoma City and Houston both won on November 2 in the United States, November 3 in the Philippines, but their early-season situations look very different. The Thunder beat Cleveland 117–112 to reach 5–2 despite a depleted rotation. The Rockets defeated Boston 109–93 and moved to 7–1, taking first place in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City’s injury problems extend beyond a single missing scorer. Chet Holmgren is expected to return in eight to 10 weeks after treatment for a small tear in his right patellar tendon, according to the team announcement reported by the Associated Press. Jalen Williams underwent surgery following a broken left fibula and dislocated ankle. Cason Wallace also had surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Williams and Wallace are due to be evaluated again before the regular season ends; those checkpoints do not guarantee return dates.
The combined absence of three starters changes how the remaining players must cover minutes and responsibilities. In Cleveland, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 43 points on 35 field-goal attempts, according to the game box score. Ajay Mitchell added 20, and Isaiah Hartenstein collected 14 rebounds. The victory demonstrates that Oklahoma City retains a route to winning, while the volume of work required from its available leaders explains the concern.
Houston had already taken a direct opportunity against this weakened opponent, beating the Thunder 119–98 on October 31. Its subsequent success against Boston makes the Rockets’ progress more substantial than a result against an injured rival. Alperen Şengün recorded 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against the Celtics, shooting 12-for-15 from the field.
Rockets Wire reported that Houston remained unbeaten in games Şengün had played this season. He had missed two games with back soreness, including the team’s only defeat, before returning for consecutive victories. That is useful context for Houston’s own availability, although a small early sample cannot establish that one player alone explains every result.
The standings therefore support a measured version of the larger argument. Houston has converted an early opportunity into wins, but Oklahoma City’s injuries are not the sole cause of the Rockets’ position. Houston still has to execute against the rest of its schedule, while the Thunder’s Cleveland response argues against treating their season as decided.
For Oklahoma City, the immediate test is whether the available rotation can distribute enough of the workload to sustain competitive performances. For Houston, it is whether the results hold as opponents adjust and its schedule develops. The injury gap is significant; the eventual conference hierarchy remains unsettled.