Thunder Get Torched in Houston as DarkHorse Under Cashes Easily

The Rockets dismantled the Thunder 116-89 in a preseason beatdown that looked lopsided from tipoff but still delivered exactly what DarkHorse promised: an easy under. The 205 combined points sailed beneath the 224.5 total, validating the read that depleted rotations and exhibition rust would strangle offensive rhythm.

Houston's defense suffocated Oklahoma City all night, holding them to a paltry 89 points while the Thunder's skeleton crew—missing Holmgren, Topic, Mitchell, Sorber, and Williams—offered little resistance on either end. The Rockets weren't exactly lighting it up themselves despite the comfortable margin; 116 points is solid but nowhere near the 230-plus eruptions these rosters can produce at full strength. With Durant, Sengun, VanVleet, and Adams all sidelined or limited for Houston, both benches ran deep into camp fodder territory, exactly the choppy, low-efficiency mess the pick anticipated.

Oklahoma City's offense looked disjointed without its core pieces, and Houston capitalized without needing to push tempo or hunt points. The result? A blowout that stayed comfortably under the number. DarkHorse nailed the setup: elite defenses, compromised lineups, preseason indifference. The scoreboard told the story, and bettors who trusted the process walked away winners while the Thunder limped back to Oklahoma wondering where their offense went.