James Harden speaks on the current status of the team and how the Rockets can use the next few weeks to get even better as a unit. (0:29)

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Chris Paul moved the ball side to side, rocking Patrick Patterson back just enough to take his patented side-hop to the right and lean back to unleash a spinning 3-pointer with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter to put the Houston Rockets up 17 points. It was an early dagger in a game that really lacked any emphatic hammer, as the Rockets methodically finished off the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-112 for a 16th consecutive win on Tuesday night.

"We just try to stay in the moment," Paul told ESPN's Tim MacMahon about the streak. "Stay in the moment, not try to think about all that stuff. Just keep hooping and leave all that other stuff for everybody else to talk about."

What makes the Rockets special was on full display though, with a balanced attack and underrated defense keeping the Thunder at arms' length for essentially the entire second half. Paul led the way with 25 points, hitting 5-of-6 from 3-point territory, and James Harden added 23 points and 11 assists. In all, seven Rockets scored in double figures.

The Thunder were energized out of the break, trimming the Rockets' 11-point halftime lead down to three midway through the third quarter with some fancy offense, such as Paul George's give-and-go, behind-the-back pass to Steven Adams for a layup. But as the Rockets do, the offense came easy on their end, with an 8-0 jolt -- featuring two 3s and an alley-oop to Clint Capela -- pushing the Thunder back to an 11-point deficit.

The run extended to 13-1, but there was another mini-burst late in the third by OKC, with Westbrook generating a two-for-one while getting the deficit to 10. Gerald Green, though, drilled a 3-pointer with a few seconds left to push the lead back to 13 heading to the fourth. It was that kind of game; any sign from OKC of making it close was answered with a simple, effective spread offense from the Rockets.

There's a clear confidence emanating from the Rockets -- they've won 16 straight, you know -- but it goes deeper than the win streak. This is a team that knows it is truly elite, built to win at the highest level, and took any idea that the Thunder were threatening and snuffed it out at every chance.

James Harden (23 points, 11 assists) helped keep the Rockets' offense clicking as Houston cruised past the Thunder. Mark D. Smith/USA TODAY Sports

Paul and Harden were ruthless as they mechanically took turns carving the Thunder, whether it was in isolation or by breaking down their shell and forcing scrambled rotations. There are so many weapons to consider, and unless you can score with them, you're in trouble. Nothing summarizes the separation better than this: The Thunder set a franchise record a few weeks ago with 17 made 3-pointers against the Grizzlies; the Rockets hit 17 against OKC on Tuesday, the 26th time this season they've hit that mark.

"We're so good offensively that every single night teams are going to throw different coverages at us," Harden said. "We've just got to find different ways to attack them. Once we find something we can go to, we use it. Guys got open shots, and we just ride that wave."

But what's often lost focusing on the firepower of Houston is that this is an impressive defensive team. Its length and activity frustrated the Thunder, forcing nine Russell Westbrook turnovers and disrupting any screen-and-roll pocket-passing they were trying to get. The Rockets threw different bodies at Westbrook -- starting with Harden, surprisingly -- interchanging between length and quickness. In the first meeting back on Christmas, Harden guarded Westbrook for only three possessions, with Eric Gordon taking him for 45 and Trevor Ariza for 14. On Tuesday, Houston coach Mike D'Antoni started with Harden on Westbrook, and shuffled through his options as the game went on.