Rockets' win over Thunder doesn't feel like an upset

A year after winning 41 games, Ime Udoka's Rockets were expected to make strides toward securing a playoff berth.

However, a quarter into the season, nobody foresaw Houston being first in rebounds, second in defensive rating and fourth in net rating, while also leading the league in various hustle metrics. 

That's precisely why it didn't feel like an upset when the Rockets defeated the powerhouse Thunder, the team that finished as the first seed a year ago, on Sunday. 

Even when the Thunder led 96-91 going into the fourth quarter, the Rockets seemed one run away from flipping the script, especially due to their ability to come through in the clutch. 

As per usual, when it was time to turn the screws, Udoka's men answered the bell. During the final 12 minutes, the Thunder were held to 7-of-23 shooting and outscored 28-20 in a 119-116 loss. Houston's defense was so elite that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — one of the best clutch scorers in the NBA — was held to 1-of-5 shooting and got increasingly frustrated that he couldn't get to his desired midrange spots. His frustrations manifested in a heated exchange with Dillon Brooks over a loose ball — uncharacteristic of the mild-mannered OKC star.