Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Two Things to Watch in Game 2 of Rockets vs. Lakers

Game 1 of the Houston Rockets' first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers was about as disappointing as you could have imagined. The Lakers were without their top two scorers, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and while the Rockets were missing Kevin Durant, it still should have been a comfortable win for the young core.

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The Quiz of the Day

The Rockets Can't Wait For Kevin Durant To Save Them

The Houston Rockets are ready for Game 2 after taking a difficult loss against the Los Angeles Lakers in their postseason opener. The Rockets dropped the game after allowing Los Angeles' playmakers to run free and create efficient offense for shooters and slashers.

Ime Udoka News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 21

Ime Udoka Will Have to be Better in Game 2 for Rockets to Win vs. Lakers

Heading into Game 1 between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, one of the biggest matchups figured to be between Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Lakers coach JJ Redick.

Houston Rockets News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA Playoff PPG leaders' quiz

How many of the players in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points-per-game in the postseason (with at least 10-career playoff games) can you name in five minutes?

Victor Wembanyama News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Playoff debut scoring-record by team' quiz

How many of the players with the most points in their NBA debut for each franchise can you name in five minutes?

The 'Most NBA Playoff wins' quiz

The 'NBA playoff double-doubles' quiz

The 'Most NBA-debut points by NBA team' quiz

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.

Houston Rockets News / The Dream Shake / April 21

Rockets picked the wrong veteran guard

Hindsight is 20/20. Foresight is not. So, arguing with the benefit of hindsight will annoy people. Still, if it’s contrary to a view that you’d expressed with (deeply flawed) foresight, it’s responsible.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 21

One Key Change That Could Help the Rockets Steal Game 2 From the Lakers

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka isn't known for his offense. He's a defensive-minded coach, which has pioneered several top-five defenses. In fact, he's never had a ball club finish out of the top-ten in defensive efficiency.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / April 21

Rockets Should Change Starting Lineup After Game 1 If KD Doesn't Return

The Houston Rockets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs has been one of most talked about series, but not in the way that was originally thought.

NBA News / The Dream Shake / April 21

Rockets shouldn’t get sympathy for injuries versus Lakers

The tale of the tape in the Houston Rockets’ opening round postseason matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers was one that hinged on health. Especially heading into the series.

Kevin Durant News / Hoops Wire / April 21

Rockets’ Kevin Durant remains questionable for Game 2

The Rockets may be getting a lift for Game 2, though it is far from certain. Kevin Durant missed Houston’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers with a knee issue, and his status remains up in the air.

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.

Kevin Durant News / Hoops Rumors / April 21

Kevin Durant Considered Questionable For Game 2

Kevin Durant missed the first game of the Rockets‘ series vs. the Lakers – a 107-98 loss – due to a knee injury. He is listed as questionable for Game 2 on Tuesday after going through a portion of the team’s practice on Monday, per The Athletic’s Will Guillory (Twitter link).

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The 'Playoff debut scoring-record by team' quiz

The 'NBA minutes-per-game leaders' quiz

The 'Stanley Cup Playoff hat-tricks' quiz

The 'Most NBA-debut points by NBA team' quiz

Kevin Durant News / Field Level Media / April 20

Kevin Durant takes spotlight as Rockets try to even series with Lakers

All eyes will be on the great Kevin Durant when his visiting Houston Rockets seek to square the ledger against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven playoff series Tuesday.

NBA News / Athlon Sports / April 20

Alperen Sengun Reveals Truth Behind Viral LeBron James Moment

The Houston Rockets' 2026 NBA Playoffs got off to a rough start, as they fell to a 107-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in their Game 1 clash. The Lakers were without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, prompting LeBron James to lead them on-court.

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.

NBA News / NBA on ClutchPoints / April 20

Alperen Sengun for Giannis Antetokounmpo chatter grows as Rockets sputter

A potential trade featuring Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo seems to be gaining plenty of interest.

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.

Charles Barkley News / Hoops Wire / April 19

Charles Barkley rips Rockets after Game 1 loss to Lakers: ‘Awful to watch’

The Rockets didn’t just drop Game 1. They caught heat. Plenty of it. Following a 107-98 road loss to the Lakers, Charles Barkley didn’t hold back while analyzing Houston’s offense on ESPN’s Inside the NBA.