Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Kevin Durant’s status for must-win Game 3 vs. Lakers up in the air

The Houston Rockets imploded on offense versus the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2. All-star Kevin Durant battled a nagging knee injury during that contest and turned the ball over nine times.

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Jabari Smith Jr. Takes Subtle Shot At Kevin Durant Over Handling Double Teams

Kevin Durant struggled with the Lakers’ constant double teams in game two, resulting in 9 turnovers. And if you ask his teammate, Jabari Smith Jr., about it, he offered a questionable solution on how KD should handle the pressure from the opposing team.

Kevin Durant News / Athlon Sports / April 23

Rockets Announce Concerning Kevin Durant Injury Update for Game 3

Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant returned to action in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers after being forced to sit out Game 1 with a knee injury.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 23

Practice Update: Houston Rockets Prepare for Game 3 Against Lakers

The Houston Rockets are coming off another disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, this time 101-94 in Game 2. Game 1 saw the Rockets lose, but many believed the loss was due to the Rockets being without Kevin Durant, who, despite his injury status being Questionable on game day, was expected to play.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most 30-point NBA Playoff games' quiz

How many of the NBA players with at least 30 games with 30 points in the postseason can you name in five minutes?

The '40-point NBA games since 1976-77' quiz

The 'Active 30-point games in an NBA season leaders' quiz

The 'NBA franchise scoring records' quiz

Houston Rockets News / NBA on ClutchPoints / April 23

Rockets’ Ime Udoka makes Reed Sheppard admission after Game 2 benching

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka limited Reed Sheppard to 10 minutes during Tuesday’s 101-94 Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he hinted at an expanded role for the second-year guard moving forward amid his team’s offensive struggles.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest playoff games in NBA history

In the NBA, it's all about showing up and showing out in the posteason. With that in mind, here are the 25 greatest NBA playoff games of all time.

Alperen Sengun News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 23

Rockets' Alperen Sengun Will Have to Be Aggressive Early in Game 3 vs Lakers

Heading into the postseason, the Houston Rockets were excited about facing the Los Angeles Lakers in round one. The franchise had been eyeing the matchup. They liked their chances.

Houston Rockets News / Scoop B / April 23

The Renaissance Facing the Reckoning: Kevin Durant, Ime Udoka, and the Rockets’ Survival

The “transition” from Phoenix is over, and the “renaissance” is facing its harshest critic: a win-or-go-home reality. For the Houston Rockets to avoid a 0-3 death sentence, Kevin Durant cannot just be a “positionless masterpiece”—he has to be a savior.

NBA News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 23

Rockets' Ime Udoka is Losing the Coaching Battle to Lakers' JJ Redick

The Houston Rockets find themselves in an 0-2 hole against the Los Angeles Lakers, heading into Game 3. But as the old adage goes, it's not a series until the home team loses.

NBA News / Yardbarker / April 23

What factors will decide the Lakers-Rockets playoff series?

When the Los Angeles Lakers' two leading scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, went down against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, many speculated their playoff hopes were diminished and that a short series was inevitable. Instead, they're up 2-0 on the Rockets. What will determine how the rest of the series plays out?

LeBron James outduels Kevin Durant as Lakers take 2-0 series lead

The 'Most 30-point NBA games at 35+' quiz

Ime Udoka News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 23

Ime Udoka Explains the Rockets’ Issues After Game 2

This first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers has not gone the Houston Rockets’ way in the slightest. It has gone the completely opposite way of what the expectations were coming in.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Yardbarker

The 25 defining moments of LeBron James' career

LeBron's career can't go on forever, can it? If it were to end tomorrow, it would be the greatest run of sustained excellence the league has ever seen.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 23

Rockets' Offense Has Been Historically Bad vs. Lakers

The 2025-26 Houston Rockets have been exhibit A of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. During the regular season, at least. We've seen them either come out flat

NBA News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 23

Two People Are to Blame for the Rockets’ Game 2 Loss to the Lakers

The Houston Rockets are in desperation mode after going down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Just like that, their season is starting to crumble after losing to a team without its top two scorers.

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The 'First round QB's since 2000' quiz

The 'Most 30-point NBA Playoff games' quiz

The 'Playoff debut scoring-record by team' quiz

The 'NBA minutes-per-game leaders' quiz

NBA News / Stadium Rant / April 23

The 2026 Rockets Are On The Verge Of Embarrassment

The Houston Rockets find themselves down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that still does not have Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves. The Rockers are on the verge of embarrassment.

Houston Rockets News / Fadeaway World / April 23

Ex-NBA Players Defend Ime Udoka From Criticism Over Reed Sheppard Amid 'Selfish' Rockets Narrative

The issues with the Rockets’ offense became glaringly clear last night in their 94-101 loss to the Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round series. Amid all

NBA News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

Former NBA Veteran Sounds off on Rockets After Game 2 Loss to Lakers

The Houston Rockets are on the brink of a season collapse after going down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Tuesday's Game 2 loss was brutal to watch, as the Rockets suffered a 101-94 defeat to a Lakers unit without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

Mock Draft: Rockets Nab Elite Rim-Protecting Big Man in the Second Round

The Houston Rockets find themselves down in an 0-2 hole against the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Rockets were eyeing this matchup, due to their advantage of athleticism and youth, not to mention the fact that the Lakers aren’t exactly known for their defensive brilliance.

Houston Rockets News / NBA on ClutchPoints / April 22

Brian Windhorst labels Rockets’ offense an ‘absolute disaster’ before Game 3

On Tuesday evening, the Houston Rockets fell behind 0-2 in their first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers with an ugly 101-94 loss in Game 2.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

The Rockets Are Being Outcoached And Outworked

The Houston Rockets are now looking at a potentially dire situation after losing both of their games on the road to start the postseason. While they could

Houston Rockets News / Total Pro Sports / April 22

Ime Udoka Defends Defensive Strategy After Reed Sheppard Minutes Question

The Houston Rockets are finding themselves in a battle they weren’t prepared for against a shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers team. Moreover, head coach Ime Udoka’s responses are sparking conversations after the team’s disappointing performances.

Tari Eason News / Hoops Wire / April 22

Rockets running into same issues that ended their season last year

The Rockets made their big swing last summer, acquiring Kevin Durant in hopes of fixing an offense that sputtered in the 2025 playoffs. So far, the results haven’t followed.

Dorian Finney-Smith News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

Dorian Finney-Smith Explains Challenging Year for Rockets

Dorian Finney-Smith was a major offseason acquisition for the Houston Rockets last summer. Well, he was supposed to be, at least. Finney-Smith had been a key rotational piece on a Los Angeles Lakers team that finished third in the Western Conference.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

The Same Issue for the Rockets All Season Is the Reason They Are Down 0-2

Coming into the 2025-26 playoffs, the Houston Rockets were seen as heavy favorites in their first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets weren't the favorites because they were seen as the better team, but because of who the Lakers would be missing.

Kendrick Perkins News / Athlon Sports / April 22

Rockets Get Destroyed by Kendrick Perkins After Game Two Collapse

The Houston Rockets are already in trouble in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it is not just the 2-0 deficit that has people talking it is how they got there.

LeBron James News / Larry Brown Sports / April 23

LeBron James takes a jab at Kevin Durant’s real height

LeBron James knows that height is a touchy subject for Kevin Durant. While talking about the threat that Houston Rockets star forward Durant presents to the Los Angeles Lakers, James brought up a particular topic that’s often viewed with intrigue — KD’s height.