The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder have a long NBA history that includes several memorable playoff battles. Their rivalry goes back to the Seattle SuperSonics era, long before the Thunder became Oklahoma City’s team in 2008. Since then, both franchises have experienced championship runs, rebuilding periods, and competitive matchups.
The Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline includes nine playoff series, with Houston winning three and the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise winning six. Their regular-season meetings have also been closely contested, making this matchup interesting for basketball fans who follow NBA history, team records, and game results.
Key Takeaways
- The rivalry began in the Seattle SuperSonics era, before the team moved to Oklahoma City.
- Houston and the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise have met in nine NBA playoff series.
- The Rockets have won three playoff series, while the SuperSonics/Thunder franchise has won six.
- Houston and Oklahoma City met in the first round of the 2013, 2017, and 2020 playoffs.
- In the 2025–26 regular season, the teams played three games, with Oklahoma City winning two and Houston winning one.
The Seattle SuperSonics Connection
To understand the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets timeline, it is important to know the history of the Seattle SuperSonics.
The SuperSonics joined the NBA in 1967 and developed a competitive history against Houston. The teams faced each other in multiple playoff series during the 1980s and 1990s.
In 2008, the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. The franchise retained its historical connection to Seattle’s basketball era, while the Thunder established a new identity in Oklahoma.
This history explains why older playoff records list Seattle rather than Oklahoma City. The Rockets did not begin playing the Thunder in 1982 under its current name; those early meetings were against the SuperSonics.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline
The following timeline covers the nine playoff series between Houston and the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise, from their first postseason meeting in 1982 through their most recent playoff matchup in 2020.
1982: Seattle SuperSonics Win the First Playoff Series
The first postseason meeting between Houston and Seattle took place in the 1982 Western Conference First Round.
Seattle won the best-of-three series 2–1. The SuperSonics took the opening game, Houston responded with a victory in Game 2, and Seattle secured the series in Game 3.
This matchup established the early playoff history between the franchises. Although the Thunder name did not exist at the time, the series is part of the franchise history associated with the current Oklahoma City team.
1987: Seattle Wins Another Playoff Battle
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Houston and Seattle met again in the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals. This time, the series extended to six games.
The SuperSonics won the series 4–2, advancing past Houston after a competitive matchup. The Rockets managed two wins but could not prevent Seattle from taking the series.
The result gave Seattle another postseason victory over Houston and increased its advantage in the rivalry’s playoff history.
1989: Seattle Advances in the First Round
The teams faced each other for a third time in the 1989 playoffs, meeting in the Western Conference First Round.
Seattle won the series 3–1. Houston secured one victory, but the SuperSonics won the other three games to advance.
The 1989 matchup continued a pattern in which Seattle had the upper hand in the early playoff meetings between these franchises.
1993: Seattle Wins a Seven-Game Series
The 1993 Western Conference Semifinals produced one of the longer playoff contests in the history of this matchup.
Houston and Seattle played seven games, with the SuperSonics eventually winning the series 4–3. The Rockets won three games but fell short of advancing to the next round.
The result strengthened Seattle’s playoff record against Houston and showed how competitive the matchup could become when both teams pushed a series to its limit.
1996: Seattle Sweeps Houston
The 1996 Western Conference Semifinals brought another difficult postseason result for Houston.
Seattle swept the Rockets 4–0, winning all four games. Houston could not secure a victory in the series, while the SuperSonics advanced without needing a fifth game.
This was the most decisive playoff series between the teams during their Seattle-era meetings. It also extended Seattle’s overall advantage in their postseason history.
1997: Houston Finally Wins a Seven-Game Series
The 1997 Western Conference Semifinals gave Houston a chance to respond after several playoff losses to Seattle.
The Rockets won the series 4–3, ending the SuperSonics’ run against them that postseason. Houston’s victory was significant because Seattle had won each of the previous five playoff series between the franchises.
The seven-game contest became an important part of the Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline, even though Oklahoma City had not yet become the franchise’s home.
2013: Oklahoma City Eliminates Houston
The rivalry returned to the playoffs in 2013, when the Oklahoma City Thunder faced the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference First Round.
Oklahoma City won the series 4–2. Houston managed two victories, but the Thunder won four games to advance.
This was the first playoff meeting between Houston and the franchise under its Oklahoma City identity. It connected the newer Thunder era with the teams’ long-standing postseason history.
2017: Houston Wins in Five Games
Houston and Oklahoma City met again in the 2017 Western Conference First Round.
The Rockets won the series 4–1, advancing after five games. Houston’s offense helped the team take control of the matchup, while Oklahoma City managed only one victory.
The series gave Houston its second playoff-series win against the franchise since the 1997 meeting with Seattle.
2020: Houston Wins a Seven-Game Thriller
The most recent playoff series between Houston and Oklahoma City took place in the 2020 Western Conference First Round.
The series went to seven games. Houston won Game 7 by a score of 104–102, securing a 4–3 series victory.
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Oklahoma City pushed the Rockets to the final game, but Houston made the decisive plays to advance. The close finish made the series one of the most memorable recent chapters in the rivalry.
As of October 2026, the 2020 series remains their most recent postseason meeting in the historical record covered here.
Rockets vs Thunder Playoff Record
Houston and the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise have met in nine playoff series. The following table shows each series and its outcome.
| Year | Playoff Round | Series Result | Winner |
| 1982 | Western Conference First Round | 2–1 | Seattle |
| 1987 | Western Conference Semifinals | 4–2 | Seattle |
| 1989 | Western Conference First Round | 3–1 | Seattle |
| 1993 | Western Conference Semifinals | 4–3 | Seattle |
| 1996 | Western Conference Semifinals | 4–0 | Seattle |
| 1997 | Western Conference Semifinals | 4–3 | Houston |
| 2013 | Western Conference First Round | 4–2 | Oklahoma City |
| 2017 | Western Conference First Round | 4–1 | Houston |
| 2020 | Western Conference First Round | 4–3 | Houston |
Houston has won three of the nine playoff series, while the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise has won six. Across the individual playoff games, the franchise leads Houston by 28 wins to 21.
Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025–26
The 2025–26 regular-season matchups added another chapter to the Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline. The teams played three games, and Oklahoma City finished with a 2–1 advantage.
| Date | Matchup Result | Winner |
| October 21, 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder 125, Houston Rockets 124 (2OT) | Oklahoma City |
| January 15, 2026 | Oklahoma City Thunder 111, Houston Rockets 91 | Oklahoma City |
| February 7, 2026 | Houston Rockets 112, Oklahoma City Thunder 106 | Houston |
The October game went into double overtime before Oklahoma City earned a one-point victory. In January, the Thunder won by 20 points. Houston responded in February with a six-point win.
These results mean the teams did not split their 2025–26 regular-season series evenly: Oklahoma City won two games, and Houston won one.
Why the Timeline Is More Complicated Than It Looks
The Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline includes two different eras because the Thunder franchise was previously based in Seattle.
Before 2008, the team was known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Therefore, playoff meetings from 1982 through 1997 belong to the Seattle era of the franchise’s history. The 2013, 2017, and 2020 series took place after the team moved to Oklahoma City.
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This distinction matters when comparing historical records. It would be inaccurate to describe the 1982 or 1996 playoff series as games played by the Oklahoma City Thunder under that name. However, the results are relevant when discussing the franchise’s historical matchups against Houston.
The regular-season record also differs from the playoff-series record. Through the end of the 2025–26 regular season, Houston had won 120 regular-season meetings, while the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise had won 126. The postseason record favors the franchise as well, with 28 playoff-game wins compared with Houston’s 21.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline
When did the Rockets and Thunder first meet in the playoffs?
The franchises first met in the 1982 NBA playoffs, when the Oklahoma City franchise was still based in Seattle and known as the SuperSonics. Seattle won the series 2–1.
How many playoff series have Houston and Oklahoma City played?
Houston and the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise have played nine playoff series. Houston has won three, while Seattle/Oklahoma City has won six.
When did the Thunder first play Houston in the playoffs as Oklahoma City?
Their first playoff meeting after the franchise moved to Oklahoma City was in 2013. The Thunder won the Western Conference First Round series 4–2.
Who won the 2020 Rockets vs Thunder playoff series?
The Houston Rockets won the 2020 first-round series 4–3. Houston secured the deciding Game 7 with a 104–102 victory.
Who won more games in the 2025–26 regular season?
Oklahoma City won two of the three regular-season games against Houston in 2025–26. Houston won the February 7 matchup, while Oklahoma City won the October 21 and January 15 games.
Why are the Seattle SuperSonics included in the Thunder timeline?
The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder. Their earlier games against Houston are part of the franchise’s historical record, but those games were played under the Seattle name.
When was the most recent Rockets vs Thunder playoff series?
The most recent playoff series in this timeline was in 2020. Houston won that first-round series 4–3. The teams’ later meetings listed above were regular-season games, not playoff series.
Conclusion
The Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline stretches from the Seattle SuperSonics’ playoff battles in the 1980s and 1990s to the more recent matchups between Houston and Oklahoma City. Across nine postseason series, the franchise has won six, while Houston has won three.
The 1997, 2017, and 2020 playoff victories stand out for Houston, while Seattle’s early series wins and Oklahoma City’s 2013 victory account for much of the franchise’s advantage. The 2025–26 regular-season results added another close chapter, with Oklahoma City winning two games and Houston taking one.
Understanding the Seattle connection is essential for reading the rivalry’s history accurately. It explains how these teams’ records span decades, different team identities, and several memorable NBA playoff matchups.