Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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.

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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.

Houston Rockets News / Total Pro Sports / April 22

Former NBA Champion Rips Houston Rockets as 'Dumbest' and 'Most Selfish' Team in Postseason

He pointed out that while Kevin Durant committed nine turnovers in the game, Ime Udoka deserves the blame. Just a few days back, the 2008 NBA champion lashed out at the Los Angeles Lakers, calling them ‘dead birds.’ However, with the postseason performance the team is delivering, there is very little ground for complaint.

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 22

Ime Udoka reveals head-scratching reason for playing Reed Sheppard only 10 minutes in Game 2

The Houston Rockets turned in another pedestrian offensive performance during Tuesday’s 101-94 Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite Kevin Durant’s return, Ime Udoka’s squad failed to crack 100 points for the second straight game, falling behind 0-2 in the series.

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.

Kevin Durant News / NBA on ClutchPoints / April 22

3 Rockets most to blame for pathetic Game 2 loss to Lakers even with Kevin Durant back

If you said the Houston Rockets would be down 2-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers, a lot of people would have assumed it was a joke. Fast forward, and the Rockets are really down 2-0 heading back to Houston, and things didn’t get any better from Game 1 to Game 2.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

Three Takeaways from the Rockets' Devastating Game 2 Loss to Lakers

The Houston Rockets looked to get back in their first round series of the NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers with the highly anticipated return of All-Star forward Kevin Durant, but even that was surprisingly not enough in a 101-94 loss in Game 2 in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

NBA News / NBA on ClutchPoints / April 22

The ‘impossible’ stats behind Rockets epic fail to start Lakers series

The Houston Rockets have found themselves down 2-0 in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers, and many people would have been surprised to hear that before it started.

NBA News / Larry Brown Sports / April 22

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.

LeBron James 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.

NBA News / The Dream Shake / April 22

Rockets get KD back, fall into 2-0 hole vs. Lakers anyway

(Please note I am currently in a deep basketball-induced depression and will be in mourning for the next 24 hours – Holly) On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Lakers kicked off Game 2 of the first round.

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The 'Most 30-point NBA Playoff games' quiz

The 'Playoff debut scoring-record by team' quiz

The 'NBA minutes-per-game leaders' quiz

The 'Stanley Cup Playoff hat-tricks' quiz

Kevin Durant News / NBA on ClutchPoints / April 22

Rockets’ Kevin Durant hits brutal career-tying low in Game 2 loss to Lakers

The Houston Rockets looked very much in danger after losing Game 1 of their first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2026 NBA playoffs.

NBA News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 22

Social Media Reacts to the Rockets' Loss to Lakers in Game 2

The Rockets and Lakers tipped off Game 2 of the first round on Tuesday night, with Houston hoping to even things up. Ultimately, the Lakers would grab another win, going up a potentially insurmountable 2-0 with a 101-94 win.

NBA News / Yardbarker / April 22

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

Tuesday night, LeBron James and Kevin Durant met in the postseason for the first time since 2018. Durant started hot but James and the Los Angeles Lakers closed stronger in their 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets.

Jeanie Buss may have hinted at LeBron James' retirement

The 'NBA Playoff PPG leaders' quiz

NBA News / Yardbarker / April 22

Kevin Durant returns in Game 2 vs. Lakers, but Rockets still lose

If the Houston Rockets can't win with a healthy Kevin Durant, their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs could be a short one.

Jrue Holiday trade pays off big for Trail Blazers in comeback Game 2 win

Scoot Henderson shoots Trail Blazers past Spurs to even series

How VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey outdueled Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum in 76ers' upset win in Game 2

Jimmy Butler may not return in 2026-27

The 'NBA Playoff PPG leaders' quiz

Kevin Durant News / Hoops Rumors / April 21

Kevin Durant Cleared To Play Game 2

Kevin Durant will play in Game 2 of the Rockets’ series against the Lakers on Tuesday night, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. Houston’s star forward missed Game 1 due to a knee tendon bruise after suffering the injury in practice last week.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 21

Rockets’ Starting Lineup Revealed Ahead of Game 2 vs. Lakers

It’s official: Kevin Durant is back for the Houston Rockets. Just hours before Game 1, it was announced that the superstar forward picked up a knee injury in practice, putting his status in question.

Houston Rockets News / Larry Brown Sports / April 21

Rockets get update on Kevin Durant’s status for Game 2

The Houston Rockets are about to get a Kevin Durant-sized boost for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant is reportedly planning to make his series debut in Game 2 after missing the opener due to injury.

Charles Barkley News / AirJordanChronicles / April 20

Charles Barkley Reveals Why Rockets Are in Trouble After Game 1 Loss

One loss in a seven-game series isn’t really a reason to panic. But even though the Rockets have six more games to recover from their Game 1 defeat against the Lakers, Charles Barkley thinks that the loss might hurt them more than expected.

Fred VanVleet News / Athlon Sports / April 19

Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Opens Up About Losing His Father At Age 5

Fred VanVleet has never shied away from where he came from, and a recent conversation made that clear all over again. The Houston Rockets guard has been sidelined all season after tearing his ACL in September, watching from the sidelines as his team put together 52 wins and pushed into the 2026 playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers.