The NBA action on Friday night delivered high drama, historic milestones, and key wins as teams battle for playoff positions. The Houston Rockets pulled off a stunning 125-111 win over the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder, snapping their 11-game winning streak in a dominant display. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics etched their name into the record books by breaking the all-time single-season three-point record during their blowout victory over the Phoenix Suns.
In other action, the Cleveland Cavaliers edged past the San Antonio Spurs by a single point to strengthen their grip on the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Green and Sengun Lead Rockets Past Thunder
The Houston Rockets sent a powerful message to the rest of the Western Conference, dismantling the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder in front of a buzzing home crowd. In what could be a preview of the Western Conference Finals, Houston showed no signs of backing down as they took control early and never looked back.
Jalen Green was electric, scoring 34 points on 11-of-24 shooting while teammate Alperen Sengun added 31 points with a mix of post play and perimeter efficiency. Together, the duo combined for 65 of the Rockets’ 125 points.
Jalen Green (34 pts) and Alperen Sengun (31 pts) boost the Rockets past the NBA-best OKC Thunder!
Houston’s 14-2 in the last 16 games pic.twitter.com/uNBUpokkPv
— NBA (@NBA) April 5, 2025
Head coach Ime Udoka praised the pair’s aggressiveness and chemistry after the game.
“He was in attack mode the whole time,” Udoka said about Sengun. “Him and Jalen were a great combination tonight. We’re hard to beat when those two are going like that.”
Houston moved to a 51-27 record with the win, tightening their grip on second place in the West. The Rockets jumped out to a 23-point lead late in the second quarter and held strong even as the Thunder cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth. Houston’s defense tightened up, and timely buckets ensured that Oklahoma City couldn’t complete their comeback.
Despite the loss, Jalen Williams put up 33 points for the Thunder, while All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 22. Rookie center Chet Holmgren was a bright spot with 20 points, including six three-pointers.
Boston Celtics Set NBA Record with Three-Point Barrage
In Boston, the Celtics made history in their 123-103 win over the Phoenix Suns by breaking the NBA record for the most three-pointers made in a single season. The reigning champions knocked down 14 triples during the game, pushing their season total to 1,370—surpassing the previous record of 1,363 set by the Golden State Warriors in the 2022-23 campaign.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 31 points, while Jayson Tatum added 23 in a game that Boston controlled from start to finish.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla credited his team’s unselfishness and high basketball IQ.
“It says that we fight for a good shot,” Mazzulla said. “We were able to fight for good looks versus the coverage. Credit to the guys for continuing to make the right reads.”
YOUR NEW NBA THREE POINT KINGS pic.twitter.com/Pu5E3geYKX
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 5, 2025
The victory cemented Boston’s position as the top team in the East and further demoralized the Suns, who have now lost five straight games. Phoenix is slipping out of postseason contention, sitting at 11th place in the Western Conference with a 35-42 record.
With only a few games left, they trail the 10th-seeded Sacramento Kings (37-40), who picked up a vital 125-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Cavaliers Survive Late Scare to Beat Spurs
Over in San Antonio, the Cleveland Cavaliers narrowly escaped with a 114-113 win against the Spurs. The Cavs held off a late rally to inch closer to locking down the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with the young Spurs pushing Cleveland to the limit. The Cavaliers relied on their late-game composure and big plays down the stretch to secure the win.
With the postseason fast approaching, every win is crucial for Cleveland, who are looking to gain home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Playoff Picture Taking Shape
As the regular season winds down, the playoff race continues to heat up. The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the postseason, while teams ranked seventh through 10th will battle it out in the Play-In Tournament for the final playoff spots.
The Rockets’ big win boosts their confidence and sends a warning shot to Western Conference rivals. Boston, on the other hand, continues to dominate and now has a piece of NBA history to their name with their record-breaking three-point performance.
Meanwhile, teams like the Suns are fighting for survival, with time running out to climb back into the playoff picture. Every game from here on out matters—and if Friday’s action was any indication, fans can expect plenty more fireworks before the postseason begins.
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