Amen Thompson Shines in Rockets' 125-124 OT Loss

Houston fell 125-124 in double overtime to the Thunder in Game 1, and the box score told the story: flashes of promise amid clear flaws. Amen Thompson flashed elite on-ball speed and aggression before leaving with a calf issue, but missed all seven 3s and struggled against pressure. Reed Sheppard, essentially a rookie, shot 3-of-11 and looked overmatched. The Rockets’ lack of a true primary playmaker crippled transition (fast-break points just 1.6%), Durant logged heavy minutes without enough ball-screens, and Alperen Şengün emerged as the team’s most reliable hub with 39 points. Merlin sees a club with bright summits and fragile valleys. These problems are fixable—protect Thompson, lean on Şengün with more two-man action alongside Durant, give Sheppard time, and manage minutes—but the absence of a clear floor general is the real worry. Expect tactical tweaks and growing pains as Houston searches for its identity.