Rockets Should Be Worried About Amen Thompson at Point Guard

On NBA Opening Night, fans got a hardwood classic — 25 lead changes, two overtimes, and more than a few controversial whistles. But the biggest takeaway from the Houston Rockets’ 125–124 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder wasn’t the drama. It was the glaring hole at point guard.

With Fred VanVleet sidelined, Ime Udoka handed the reins to third-year guard Amen Thompson. Surrounded by Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün, and Steven Adams, Houston’s jumbo lineup looked imposing on paper. In practice, it looked unbalanced. The Rockets’ size created defensive mismatches, but their lack of organization — and reliable ball-handling — cost them control of the game.

Size Without Spacing

The Rockets’ offense looked cramped from the jump. With four players standing 6-foot-8 or taller, Oklahoma City packed the paint and dared Houston to shoot. Şengün, ironically, became their best floor-spacer, drilling a career-high five of eight threes. The rest of the lineup went cold: Durant and Thompson combined to go 0-for-11 from deep, while Smith hit just two of six, including the fading corner miss that ended the game in double overtime.

That lack of perimeter gravity clogged driving lanes and created chaos. Houston committed 24 turnovers, leading directly to 26 Thunder points — a sharp contrast from last season, when VanVleet’s presence helped the team average just 13.9 turnovers per game, top-10 in the league.

Winning the Boards, Losing the Pace

The Rockets’ size advantage showed up on the glass. They outrebounded Oklahoma City 52–38 and controlled much of the paint. But every rebound win turned into a transition loss. The Thunder ran Houston off the floor, outscoring them 16–2 in fast-break points and exploiting mismatches before Adams or Şengün could recover.

Thompson’s athleticism kept him in the mix — he posted 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds in 39 minutes — but the offensive rhythm sputtered whenever he handled primary duties. He missed all seven of his three-point attempts and visibly cramped in overtime before exiting with 2:58 remaining. The Rockets never looked the same without him, but that absence only underscored the larger issue: there’s no one else who can fill his role.

No Backup Plan

Second-year guard Reed Sheppard wasn’t ready to handle those responsibilities either, shooting 3-of-11 from the field while struggling to initiate offense under pressure. Too often, the Rockets looked unsure of who should bring the ball up or organize sets — a clear sign of how much they miss VanVleet’s stability.

“That’s a problem for both him and the Rockets,” one league observer said postgame. “They don’t have anyone else to take on that role in higher volumes. Too often Thompson was left out to dry, because no one on Houston is familiar enough with bringing the ball up.”

If Thompson’s calf issue lingers, Houston could be in trouble fast. He’s an imperfect solution to a bigger problem — but right now, he’s the only one they’ve got.

Until VanVleet returns, the Rockets will keep searching for answers at the most important position on the floor. And after opening night, it’s fair to wonder whether Amen Thompson is ready to provide them.

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