The Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline stretches back to 1982, although the Thunder played as the Seattle SuperSonics until relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. The franchises have met in nine playoff series: six when the team was in Seattle and three after the move to Oklahoma City. Through the 2025–26 season, Oklahoma City leads the playoff series count 6–3.
Key Takeaways
- The first playoff meeting came in 1982, when Houston faced the Seattle SuperSonics.
- The franchises have met nine times in the NBA playoffs.
- Six playoff series occurred during the Seattle SuperSonics era.
- The Rockets won the playoff series in 1997, 2017, and 2020.
- The Thunder franchise won the other six playoff series, including the 2013 matchup.
- In the 2025–26 regular season, the teams split their two meetings, with Oklahoma City winning 111–91 and Houston winning 112–106.
The Seattle SuperSonics Connection
Before looking at the Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline, there is one important detail to understand.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the continuation of the Seattle SuperSonics franchise. The team relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008 and began playing under the Thunder name.
That means the historical matchup between Houston and Oklahoma City includes several playoff series that were officially Rockets vs. Seattle SuperSonics.
This is why some historical records show nine playoff meetings even though only three of those series were played after the Oklahoma City relocation.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline
1982: First Playoff Meeting
The first postseason meeting between the franchises came in the 1982 Western Conference First Round.
Seattle won the best-of-three series 2–1. The SuperSonics won Game 1, Houston responded in Game 2, and Seattle closed the series with a Game 3 victory.
This series established the first chapter of what would eventually become a much longer Rockets-SuperSonics/Thunder playoff history.
1987: Another Western Conference Battle
Five years later, Houston and Seattle met again, this time in the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals.
Seattle won the series 4–2. The SuperSonics took the first two games, Houston won Games 3 and 5, but Seattle finished the matchup in six games. Game 6 went to double overtime, with Seattle winning 128–125.
1989: SuperSonics Win Again
The teams met for a third time in the 1980s during the 1989 Western Conference First Round.
Seattle won 3–1. Houston took Game 3 by a 126–107 score, but Seattle won the other three games to advance.
1993: Seven-Game Series
The 1993 matchup became one of the closest meetings in the timeline.
Houston and Seattle faced each other in the Western Conference Semifinals, with the SuperSonics eventually winning 4–3.
Houston tied the series at 3–3 after falling behind 2–0 and later trailing 3–2. Seattle won Game 7, 103–100, to end the series.
1996: Seattle Sweeps Houston
The next playoff meeting came in the 1996 Western Conference Semifinals.
Seattle dominated the series, winning 4–0. The SuperSonics won the four games by scores of 108–75, 105–101, 115–112, and 114–107.
It was the most decisive playoff result between the franchises up to that point.
1997: Rockets Win a Seven-Game Classic
One year later, Houston and Seattle met again in the Western Conference Semifinals.
This time, the Rockets won 4–3.
The series went the full seven games. Houston won Game 7 at home, defeating Seattle 96–91. Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Clyde Drexler were among the major Houston figures during this period, while Seattle featured stars such as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp.
This was the final playoff meeting between the Rockets and the SuperSonics before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City.
2013: First Rockets vs Thunder Series in the OKC Era
The next postseason meeting did not happen until 2013, five years after the SuperSonics franchise moved to Oklahoma City.
The Thunder entered the Western Conference First Round as the No. 1 seed, while Houston was the No. 8 seed.
Oklahoma City won the series 4–2. Houston won Games 4 and 5, but the Thunder closed out the matchup with a 103–94 victory in Game 6.
The series also featured James Harden facing his former team, Oklahoma City, adding an important storyline to the matchup.
2017: Rockets Win 4–1
The teams met again in the 2017 Western Conference First Round.
Houston won the series 4–1. The Rockets opened with a 118–87 victory, then won Game 2 by four points. Oklahoma City answered in Game 3, but Houston won Games 4 and 5 to finish the series.
The matchup featured two MVP-level guards: Houston’s James Harden and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.
Game 2 was particularly notable because Westbrook scored 51 points, while Houston still won 115–111.
2020: Rockets Win Another Seven-Game Series
The most recent playoff series between the teams came in the 2020 Western Conference First Round.
Houston won 4–3 after a dramatic seven-game battle inside the NBA bubble in Orlando.
The Rockets won the first two games before Oklahoma City responded by taking Games 3 and 4. Houston then won Game 5, the Thunder won Game 6, and Houston survived Game 7 with a 104–102 victory.
Game 7 was especially memorable because Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort scored 30 points, while Houston received 21 points each from Eric Gordon and Robert Covington. James Harden struggled with his shooting but made a key defensive play late in the game.
Rockets vs Thunder Playoff Record
Across the nine playoff series between the two franchises, Oklahoma City/Seattle has won six series, while Houston has won three.
| Year | Thunder/SuperSonics result | Series winner |
| 1982 | Seattle 2–1 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1987 | Seattle 4–2 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1989 | Seattle 3–1 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1993 | Seattle 4–3 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1996 | Seattle 4–0 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1997 | Houston 4–3 | Houston Rockets |
| 2013 | Oklahoma City 4–2 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2017 | Houston 4–1 | Houston Rockets |
| 2020 | Houston 4–3 | Houston Rockets |
The playoff head-to-head record across those series is 28–21 in favor of the Thunder/SuperSonics, according to Stathead’s franchise matchup data.
That record includes the six Seattle-era series and the three Oklahoma City-era series.
Rockets vs Thunder in 2026
The teams did not meet in the 2026 playoffs, but they played twice during the 2025–26 regular season.
On January 15, 2026, Oklahoma City defeated Houston 111–91 at Toyota Center. The Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Houston 34–16. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points, while Chet Holmgren added 18.
Houston got its response on February 7, 2026, beating Oklahoma City 112–106 at Paycom Center. Tari Eason scored a season-high 26 points, Alperen Sengun recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 20 for Houston.
So the 2025–26 regular-season series finished 1–1.
Why the Timeline Is More Complicated Than It Looks
The biggest source of confusion is the name change.
If you search only for “Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder,” it is easy to assume their history begins in 2008. In reality, their franchise matchup goes back to 1982, when Oklahoma City’s franchise was still playing in Seattle.
That gives the rivalry two distinct eras:
Seattle era: 1982, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1996, and 1997.
Oklahoma City era: 2013, 2017, and 2020.
Overall, the franchises had played 295 total regular-season and playoff games through the 2025–26 season. In regular-season meetings, Houston had 120 wins and Oklahoma City had 126. In the playoffs, the Thunder/SuperSonics held the 28–21 advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Rockets and Thunder first meet in the playoffs?
The first playoff meeting was in 1982, when the Houston Rockets faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference First Round. Seattle won the best-of-three series 2–1.
How many playoff series have the Rockets and Thunder played?
The franchises have played nine playoff series. Six happened when the Thunder franchise was still the Seattle SuperSonics, while three occurred after the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.
Did the Thunder play the Rockets as the Seattle SuperSonics?
Yes. Six playoff series in the franchise timeline were officially Rockets vs. Seattle SuperSonics: 1982, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1996, and 1997.
Who won the 2020 Rockets vs Thunder series?
The Houston Rockets won the 2020 Western Conference First Round series 4–3. Houston won Game 7 by a score of 104–102.
What happened between the Rockets and Thunder in 2026?
During the 2025–26 regular season, Oklahoma City won the first meeting 111–91 on January 15, 2026. Houston won the second meeting 112–106 on February 7, making the regular-season series 1–1.
Conclusion
The Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline is much older than the Oklahoma City name suggests.
It began with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1982, continued through six Seattle-era playoff series, and resumed with three Oklahoma City-era postseason matchups in 2013, 2017, and 2020.
The most recent chapter came during the 2025–26 regular season, when Houston and Oklahoma City split their two meetings.
The complete franchise history therefore covers decades of Western Conference basketball, multiple generations of stars, and nine playoff series.
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