Feb. 15—OKLAHOMA CITY — As the final seconds of the third quarter trickled off the clock, Rockets guard Josh Christopher missed an off-balance, one-handed scoop layup attempt. The Thunder got the rebound ahead to Shai Gilgeous- Alexander, who threw down a dunk that expanded Oklahoma City’s lead to 40 points and punctuated what had already become the Rockets’ second humiliation in as many weeks.

The last game the Rockets played at Paycom Center on Feb. 4 marked their worst defeat of the season as they surrendered 153 points to the Thunder and lost by 32. In the four games between then and Wednesday, the Rockets allowed opponents to average 122.5 points per game, shoot 51.8 percent from the field and 40.6 percent on 3-pointers.

The rematch with the Thunder constituted more of the same. The Rockets lost 133-96 on Wednesday and brought their losing streak to seven in the final game before the All-Star break.

Prior to the game, Rockets coach Stephen Silas warned it was possible for teams to “let go of the rope” with the break in sight. The Rockets did so, and the Thunder grabbed hold of the rope and yanked it in the opposite direction.

Oklahoma City shot 48.3 percent from the field and 85.1 percent on free throws. Less than five minutes elapsed before Houston trailed by 10 points, a 1-of-7 shooting start juxtaposed with Oklahoma City’s 7-of-10 start.

The Thunder went to a zone defense for some time in the first quarter as the Rockets shot 26 percent from the field but returned to man coverage once it became apparent the Rockets posed no threat either way.

Houston shot 33.7 percent from the field, 27 percent from deep, and was outscored in the paint 64-38. The Rockets trailed by as many as 45 points during the Feb. 4 loss, and on Wednesday saw the deficit reach 31 in the second quarter and 40 in the third.

Rockets guard Jalen Green scored 11 of his 14 points in the second quarter but suffered a groin strain just before halftime and did not play the rest of the game. The Rockets did not play any of their starters in the fourth quarter, anyway.

Foul play and foul mouths The sound of wind blowing across the Oklahoma plains was accompanied by constant whistling inside the arena. The Rockets and Thunder combined to attempt 30 free throws and officials handed out six technical fouls during the first quarter, which took nearly 45 minutes to unfold.

Houston made just five goals in the quarter and missed seven free throws, including two technical foul free throws. Jae’Sean Tate, Alperen Sengun and Usman Garuba each picked up a technical. One of Oklahoma City’s three technicals was assessed to coach Mark Daigneault.

The Rockets attempted 27 free throws in the first half, their highest total for any half this season, and finished shooting 26-of-38 (68.4 percent) at the foul line. They entered Wednesday averaging 25.6 free throw attempts per game, which ranked fifth in the NBA, with an average of 27.1 over the past 14 games.

The Thunder ended the game shooting 40-of-47 at the foul line, season highs for a Rockets opponent in both made free throws and attempts.

Surging much too late

For the third game in a row since they traded Eric Gordon, the Rockets started Tate at point guard. Houston’s overall offense was questionable at best, flat and uninspired at worst, but for a while at the beginning Tate was the only one capable of scoring.

Tate made his first three shots of the game while the rest of the Rockets went 0-for-11, but he also appeared increasingly frustrated with the officiating and picked up three first-half fouls, needing to be comforted by Jabari Smith Jr. and assistant coach John Lucas after the third. He played just five minutes in the second half.

By the time Green began to turn on the jets in the second quarter, when he scored 11 points, the Rockets were down by 30. Green was heating up and helped whittle the deficit to 20 points, but he then exited the game 36 seconds before halftime following the injury.

All-Star warmups The Thunder’s trio of representatives for All-Star weekend looked like they were revving up for the upcoming festivities in Salt Lake City. All-Star reserve Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points in 29 minutes on 8-of-16 shooting. Rising Stars invitees Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey added 13 points apiece.

Houston’s representatives did not match them. Rising Stars Sengun and Smith ended up just shy of double-doubles, though long after the game had been decided. Sengun struggled with foul trouble and turnovers en route to eight points and 10 rebounds. Smith, who also will compete in the skills challenge, made multiple 3-pointers in a game for just the third game this month and had nine rebounds but scored five of his 15 points at the free-throw line.

Fellow Rising Star Green’s injury took him out of the second half entirely. Dunk contest participant K.J. Martin shot 1 of 9 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts.