The Houston Rockets never expected to be in this position this season. Even with the injury to Fred VanVleet, Houston still held belief that the team could hold on and be a major factor in the Western Conference with growth from the young players and the addition of Kevin Durant.
The Houston Rockets have encountered a bit of turbulence as of late, losers of four out of their last five games to slip to play-in territory in the Western Conference.
The Houston Rockets have hit a rough patch in their 2025-26 season. Since the start of December, up until Sunday's loss in Sacramento, the Rockets have been below-.500 team as they have dealt with everything from a demanding schedule to injuries and, overall, poor play on the court.
The 2025-26 Houston Rockets have proven capable of beating anyone. Or at least staying in the game with anyone. The Rockets snagged a victory over the Denver Nuggets when Denver was at full strength not too long ago.
The Houston Rockets are suddenly facing adversity they hadn’t encountered earlier this season. And there’s no signs of it slowing down. Houston’s slide continued Sunday night with a 111-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings, marking the Rockets’ third straight defeat and their fourth loss in the last five games.
Part of what makes the NBA, or any pro sports league, so compelling to watch is the narratives, especially those centered on rivalries. Throughout the decades, the NBA has fostered a number of rivalries, some long-lasting and others short but sweet.
What have they got to lose? Besides a lot of games against lottery teams, that is. It’s getting frustrating, isn’t it? I tried to warn against panic. Perhaps that was projection.
The term ‘unicorn’ gets thrown around a lot in the NBA, but we’ve really never seen anyone like Kevin Durant. The Slim Reaper is one of the most unguardable players to ever lace them up.
The 2026 NBA calendar year has gone about like the rest of the season for the Houston Rockets. Up-and-down. Topsy-turvy. Roller coaster. Okay, you get the point.
The Rockets offense had been putrid without Alperen Sengun in the lineup, so going into Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, Rockets fans were hopeful his return to the lineup would set things right.
The Sacramento Kings had a solid 111-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in their recent matchup. By improving their overall record to 9-30, the team is moving forward to face their next rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, tonight.
Sunday night’s 111-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings is a regrettable one for Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets. Having notched their first losing streak (three consecutive losses) of the 2025-26 season, the Rockets find themselves in an unfamiliar position.
The Houston Rockets need to get back to the drawing board. They have dropped their third game in a row, losing to the Sacramento Kings 98-111 after losing back-to-back games against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Houston Rockets started off the season with their best possible scenarios. They already knew they weren't getting Fred VanVleet back this season, and that Dorian Finney-Smith would take some time to return from his injury.
The Houston Rockets, coming into the season, were seen as one of the NBA's championship contenders, especially after trading for Kevin Durant in the offseason.
The Houston Rockets have lost three of their last five games, and they’re looking to get back on track against the Sacramento Kings. One of the reasons for their underwhelming play over the past few games is because of the injury to Alperen Sengun, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.
Trade season is alive and well in the NBA. In fact, there's only a month before the league's February 5th trade deadline. Well, less than a month, actually.
With one-time All-Star Alperen Sengun out of the lineup due to injury, the Houston Rockets have now suffered three losses in four tries, two of which came back-to-back in Portland.
The Houston Rockets have been clutching at straws to scrape together wins lately. They’re still viewed as a top team in the competitive Western Conference.
The Houston Rockets are seeing the best version of Steven Adams because of the toughest stretch of his career. At his lowest point, Adams wasn’t battling opponents for rebounds; he was battling his own body.
Three years ago, it felt like Ja Morant would be a member of the Memphis Grizzlies for life. But after injuries, scandals, disappointing postseasons and a coaching change, the Grizzlies are considering trade offers for their two-time All-Star guard.
The idea once felt unrealistic. Now, it feels cautiously plausible. The Houston Rockets are no longer ruling out a late-season return for Fred VanVleet, and the veteran point guard is openly working toward that goal.