Rockets make franchise-record 28 three-pointers in 136-106 destruction of OKC

POSTED: February 1, 2021 -- 11:57 p.m. CT

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Chesapeake Energy Arena) -- Unlike Saturday in New Orleans, Monday night, the Houston Rockets didn't wait for the second quarter to start to lock in defensively and explode offensively. The Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 136-106 Monday evening to climb above .500 (10-9). Houston has won six straight games.

OKC (8-11) led 4-3 before John Wall made his second three-point shot of the game. Wall scored Houston's 8 points in the game. Christian Wood dunked; Victor Oladipo hit a 3; Wood got another dunk; Oladipo hit another 3. Wood joined the three-point party with a 3-point splash in transition. Houston's 18-0 run took 3 minutes, 3 seconds.

Houston made 5 three-pointers in the first six minutes, 16 seconds of the first quarter; but, the Rockets were just warming up. Houston rained six more threes down on the Thunder in the final 5:44 of the quarter for a remarkable 11 three-point baskets in the first quarter. The 11 made threes ties an NBA record for most threes made in one quarter.

Houston shot 11 for 14 from three point range for an astonishing 78.6%. By comparison, Houston was a pedestrian 50.0% (6 for 12) on two-point attempts. By the time the quarter ended, Houston had doubled up OKC 48-24.

OKC trimmed 9 points off Houston's lead in the second quarter to get within 15 points; however, the Rockets led by 19 (73-54) at halftime.

The Rockets made 3 three-point shots in the second quarter.

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OKC never threatened in the third quarter. Houston's smallest lead in the third quarter was 17 (80-63); but, the Rockets outscored OKC 22-13 the final 7 minutes in the third to lead 102-76 after three periods.

Houston made 5 threes in the third quarter; therefore, Houston had 19 three-point shots going to the fourth quarter.

Since the game was well in hand, the Rockets' bench brigade let the threes fly with confidence in the final quarter. The Rockets' franchise record for most threes made in one game was 27. Danuel House Jr made 2 threes in the first 2 plus minutes of the fourth. Eric Gordon made his fifth (and final) three-pointer between the House triples.

Twenty-two threes made with 9:43 remaining in the ball game. Houston went nearly three minutes without making a three-pointer. But, rookie Mason Jones ended the brief drought with a three. Then, big man DeMarcus Cousins went to work from long range. Cousins hit back-to-back threes for the 24th and 25th threes of the game.

Houston led 123-94 with 5:13 on the clock. After Cousins made 2 free throws, Mason Jones banked in a floater for a 127-97 lead with 3:38 left in the game. Still time left to make more three-point shots. Cousins made three-pointer number 26 with 3:07 on the clock. Ben McLemore tied the franchise record with three-pointer number 27 with 2:08 remaining in the game.

Which player would make number 28?

Answer: Boogie Cousins. Cousins swished the 28th three-pointer with 1:45 on the game clock. The NBA record for most threes made in one game is 29. Cousins and House Jr each missed 1 three-point try in the closing moments.

After the game, Cousins said he was unaware of the record; but, he did say, "It's fun to play basketball. It's fun to come to work."

Cousins finished the game with 17 points (5 for 9 threes) and 8 rebounds in 20 minutes, 53 seconds.

Eric Gordon scored a game-high 25 points (5 for 9 threes) in just 21 minutes, 48 seconds.

Gordon's 25 points led the Rockets' second unit. Houston's bench brigade scored 68 points.

"I want us to be the best second unit in the league," Gordon said after the game.

Christian Wood added 18 points and 11 boards in 26 minutes, 2 seconds.

John Wall also scored 18 points. Wall added 6 rebounds and five assists in 21 minutes, 42 seconds.

Danuel House Jr scored 13 and added 4 boards in 25 minutes, 51 seconds.

Rookie Jae'Sean Tate filled the stat sheet with 11 points (5 for 6 field goals), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 blocked shots in 22 minutes, 59 seconds.

NEXT:

The Rockets' next game concludes their two-game stint in Oklahoma City. Houston will face the Thunder, Wednesday, February, 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time.

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