On paper, Monday’s game between the Houston Rockets (37-24, No. 5 in the Western Conference standings) and the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (50-11) seemingly profiled as a potential series preview for the NBA’s 2025 playoffs.

But in reality, the visitors at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center were quite short-handed, relative to the version they would hope to have in any playoff rematch. It showed in a 137-128 loss (box score) during which Houston’s fourth-rated defense was often shredded (without five of its top-seven rotation players) by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (highlights).

At least in part, that subpar defensive effort was due to the absence of veteran guard Fred VanVleet (right ankle strain, which he re-aggravated in Saturday’s game) and Tari Eason, who sits out half of all back-to-backs for injury management pertaining to a pre-existing leg issue. With the back-to-back looming and four games over a span of six nights, Houston also held out Alperen Sengun (lower back soreness), Dillon Brooks (right knee contusion), and Amen Thompson (right shoulder soreness) on Monday night.

VanVleet’s return timetable is not yet clear, while the other four rotation regulars are all expected back in the coming days — likely on Tuesday in Indiana. Each was listed as questionable earlier in the day, which typically indicates a lack of severity.

On the home side, there was more positive injury news. Third-year center Chet Holmgren (11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks) returned for the Thunder after missing Sunday’s game with a left ankle sprain, which he suffered last Friday. By all indications, it was a minor sprain, since the big man came back in three days.

Read on for real-time updates from our in-game live blog. The good news for the Rockets is that on offense, they did have several encouraging showings by younger players who got extended opportunities to play due to all the absences.

Led by a duo of talented prospects in Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore, Houston closed to within within two possessions (trailing 134-128) before a Luguentz Dort 3-pointer finally put the game away in the closing seconds. Collectively, Oklahoma City shot 17-of-37 from distance (45.9%) against the short-handed Rockets, who tried an uncharacteristic zone defense for extended stretches of the game.

In Defeat, Houston’s Prospects Make Statement

With 51 points on 60% shooting, MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his third-highest scoring total of the season for the Thunder.

But in a surprisingly competitive 137-128 loss, the short-handed Rockets were led by strong showings from young players who have played only sparingly this season. For Houston, final statistics of note included:

• Reed Sheppard: Career-high 25 points, 5 assists, 2 steals; 10-of-17 shooting (58.8%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
• Cam Whitmore: Career-high 27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks; 10-of-19 shooting (52.6%), 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%)
• N’Faly Dante: Career-high 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks in 18 minutes; 4-of-7 shooting (57.1%)

For both Sheppard and Whitmore, it was the season’s first start.

Jalen Green (who leads Houston in scoring for the season) had 18 points (42.9% FG), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 25 minutes. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter, as Ime Udoka appeared mindful of minutes during a logistically challenging portion of the schedule.

Green and Jabari Smith Jr. (11 points, 8 rebounds, 35.7% FG in 28 minutes) were the lone representatives of Houston’s top-seven rotation players, and both are expected to be available on Tuesday against the Pacers. Thus, Udoka treated Monday’s game with caution for those two in particular.

Ime Udoka Postgame Reaction

Ime Udoka says games like this are important for the guys who don’t regularly play significant minutes. Said, in part, every opportunity on the court matters.

“We look at everything as coaches; who can handle themselves in high-pressure situations.”

— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) March 4, 2025

Lu Dort Regains Separation for OKC

Led by Reed Sheppard, Houston went on a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter to trim Oklahoma City’s lead to six points. But Oklahoma City responded with eight straight of its own and now leads, 120-106, with just over six minutes left to play.

That 8-0 Thunder run included a pair of 3-pointers from Luguentz Dort, who is shooting almost 40% on 3-pointers this season. Oklahoma City is shooting a remarkable 16-of-30 from 3-point range (53.3%) against the Rockets, which has allowed them to keep Houston at arm’s length despite strong efforts from the likes of Sheppard and Cam Whitmore (team-high 23 points).

Reed Sheppard Sets New Career-High

The Rockets aren’t going away. At the 9:06 mark of the fourth quarter, Houston has trimmed what was an 18-point deficit to just eight (102-94).

In his first career start, rookie guard Reed Sheppard has scored a career-high 21 points and counting. That total includes 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50.0%), with the latest two coming early in the fourth quarter to keep Houston competitive.

The Rockets have outscored the Thunder by three points in minutes with MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (45 points) on the Oklahoma City bench.

N’Faly Dante Scores First NBA Points

In his first regular-season game, rookie center N’Faly Dante (undrafted via Oregon) has 3 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 10 minutes off Houston’s bench.

Led by a game-high 45 points (64.0% FG, 62.5% on 3-pointers) and 7 assists from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City leads by 13 points (102-89) to begin the fourth quarter.

Cam Whitmore Keeps Rockets in Striking Distance

The West-leading Thunder have flexed their muscle in the third quarter versus the undermanned Rockets, but second-year wing prospect Cam Whitmore is keeping Houston competitive.

Making his first start of 2024-25 Whitmore now has a team-high 19 points (57.1%) and 7 rebounds for the Rockets, who have clawed back to within single digits with 3:00 left in the third quarter. Oklahoma City leads, 92-83.

Jabari Smith Jr. Struggles as OKC Takes Control

Third-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. had a fast start Monday but has cooled considerably as the game moves along.

Midway through the third quarter, Smith has 11 points and 7 rebounds but has made only 5-of-13 shots (38.5%), including a pair of missed layups during an extended third-quarter run by the Thunder.

Oklahoma City leads, 89-74, with 4:40 left until the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 40 points, and his career-high total of 54 could be in play if the game is close enough for “SGA” to play serious fourth-quarter minutes.

SGA leads the league with nine games of 40+ points this season, and it’s why he’s an increasingly strong frontrunner to win MVP honors.

SGA Shoots Thunder to Biggest Lead

The Rockets have played well, but winning on the road as a short-handed underdog is tough to pull off if the shooting advantage isn’t in your favor.

Houston is 6-of-17 from 3-point range (35.3%), while Oklahoma City is 8-of-17 (47.1%). That six-point gap, on identical attempts, is essentially the game’s current margin early in the third quarter (74-67 Thunder, 8:33 left).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored an incredible 32 points in 20 minutes, including 3-of-4 from deep (75.0%). He now has 38 games this season of 30+ points, which leads the league.

Jalen Green Heats Up Late in First Half

Despite being undermanned, Houston only trails by a point (63-62) at halftime. Jalen Green has impressed with a team-high 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in 16 minutes, shooting 4-of-9 from the field (44.4%).

Young prospects Reed Sheppard (11 points, 2 assists, 80.0% FG) and Cam Whitmore (10 points, 6 rebounds, 45.5% FG) each fared well in their first starts of the season.

Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has dominated for Oklahoma City with 28 points (62.5% FG) in 17 minutes — though spirited play by reserves near the end of Houston’s bench has kept the Rockets surprisingly competitive.

With VanVleet, Thompson, Brooks, Sengun, and Eason all sidelined, the Rockets are playing without five of their top-seven players in minutes per game.

Thunder Storm Back to Take Lead

After calling timeout with a nine-point deficit early in the period, the Thunder outscored the short-handed Rockets, 12-2, over the ensuing three minutes. Oklahoma City leads, 45-44, midway through the second quarter.

Cason Wallace has 7 points in 10 minutes off Oklahoma City’s bench, including an impactful 3-pointer over a contest by Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 57.1% FG)

Reed Sheppard Impresses in Opening Stint

Making the first start of his young NBA career, rookie guard Reed Sheppard is his team’s early scoring leader with 9 points, including a deep 3-pointer to give Houston its largest lead of the game (42-33 at 9:12 mark of second quarter).

Oklahoma City is -8 in less than three minutes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander resting on its bench. The Thunder are on night two of a split back-to-back after playing at San Antonio on Sunday, so head coach Mark Daigneault would prefer to be conservative with minutes, if possible.

SGA Erupts for 20 First-Quarter Points

Facing a new-look zone defense from the Rockets, All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted in the first quarter with 20 points (58.3% FG) for the Thunder.

And yet, Houston leads as the second quarter begins, 31-30. Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore have scored 6 points apiece to lead the Rockets.

Short-Handed Rockets Not Laying Down

Despite being a double-digit underdog amid all the absences, the Rockets hold a 24-16 lead with 4:26 left to play in the first quarter.

Cam Whitmore has paced Houston with 6 points and 3 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr., Jock Landale, and Reed Sheppard have scored 4 points apiece while making all five of their combined shots.

Most Valuable Player (MVP) frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 8 points (60.0% FG) and 2 assists.

Jalen Green Makes 165th Consecutive Start

While Houston was missing four of its five planned starters in Oklahoma City due to injuries and/or back-to-back maintenance considerations, the one usual starter who did play was leading scorer Jalen Green.

For the 23-year-old shooting guard, it was his 165th consecutive game played (all starts), representing one of the longest active streaks in the entire NBA. The last time Green missed a game came over two years ago in February 2023.

Ain’t missed a game in 24 months through the ups and downs kept firing away. Love for the game and other things becoming vastly underrated. Part of the story though. https://t.co/Y6rBxty51X

— Mike Hill (@ThrillHill5) March 3, 2025

Reed Sheppard Makes First NBA Start

With the Rockets extremely short-handed (Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Dillon Brooks all unavailable), sparingly used rookie Reed Sheppard made his first NBA start at point guard.

Sheppard, drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round, started alongside Jalen Green in Houston’s new-look backcourt. Frontcourt starters were Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, and Jock Landale.

For Whitmore, a second-year prospect drafted in the 2023 first round, Monday’s game against the Thunder was only his third career start and first of the 2024-25 season.

Houston is starting Reed Sheppard, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith Jr. and Jock Landale. All non-Green starters are out. https://t.co/zBL9k9BUFR

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) March 4, 2025

Chet Holmgren Returns for Thunder

After missing Sunday’s victory at San Antonio with a left ankle sprain, third-year center Chet Holmgren returned to Monday’s starting lineup for Oklahoma City. Holmgren averages 15.2 points (50.3% FG, 37.7% on 3-pointers), 8.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game for the Thunder, and he’s an interior anchor of the NBA’s top-rated defense (which allowed 132 points to the Spurs in his absence).

Fred VanVleet Day-to-Day with Ankle

“This one’s different,” said Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, referring to VanVleet’s previous injury to the same ankle. That one forced him to miss four weeks.

“Hopefully day to day, game to game,” Udoka said. “Reaggravated a different area, same ankle. So hopefully it doesn’t impact the old injury, and he’s back sooner than later.”

Ime Udoka on the status of Fred VanVleet’s ankle injury:

“This one’s different. Hopefully day to day, game to game… Reaggravated different area, same ankle. So hopefully it doesn’t impact the old injury and he’s back sooner than later.” pic.twitter.com/xsc98uIrLj

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 4, 2025

VanVleet was a participant in Houston’s gameday shootaround earlier in the day.

With the second game of a back-to-back on tap, Houston’s injury/status report for Tuesday’s game in Indiana will be published at 12:30 p.m. Central that afternoon. That should be the next official update regarding the availabilities of VanVleet and all others who missed Monday’s matchup against the Thunder.

VanVleet getting shots up as Rockets shootaround in OKC winds down. He’s out tonight with a right ankle strain.

Lengthy injury list for Houston (Adams, Eason, Brooks, Thompson and Sengun all questionable) ahead of a tight schedule — 3 upcoming games in 4 days. https://t.co/hauPr0g62r pic.twitter.com/ZbbnwjhcP8

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) March 3, 2025

Game and Broadcast Information

• Date: Monday, March 3
• Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
• Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
• Channels: Space City Home Networks, NBA TV
• Stream: Fubo TV (free trial), NBA League Pass nationally

Team Rankings

Statistical rankings among the NBA’s 30 teams, as of Monday:

• Houston: No. 7 net rating (4.0), No. 13 offensive rating (113.4), No. 4 defensive rating (109.4)
• Oklahoma City: No. 1 net rating (12.6), No.5 offensive rating (118.4), No. 1 defensive rating (105.8)

Starting Lineups

Rockets:

• Reed Sheppard, No. 15, guard
• Jalen Green, No. 4, guard
• Cam Whitmore, No. 7, forward
• Jabari Smith Jr., No. 10, forward
• Jock Landale, No. 2, center

Thunder:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, No. 2, guard
• Luguentz Dort, No. 5, guard
• Jalen Williams, No. 8, forward
• Chet Holmgren, No. 7, forward
• Isaiah Hartenstein, No. 55, center

Player Absences

Rockets:

• Fred VanVleet, out, right ankle strain
• Tari Eason, out, left lower leg injury management
• Alperen Sengun, out, lower back soreness
• Amen Thompson, out, right shoulder soreness
• Dillon Brooks, out, right knee contusion

Thunder:

• Isaiah Joe, out, low back soreness
• Ajay Mitchell, out, right great toe surgery
• Nikola Topic, out, left knee surgery

Next Week for Rockets

• March 4 at Pacers
• March 6 at Pelicans
• March 8 vs. Pelicans
• March 10 vs. Magic

More: With Nate Williams converted, Rockets sign David Roddy to open two-way position

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets guards Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore enjoy career games at OKC