Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Dorian Finney-Smith Available for Rockets' Christmas Day Battle vs. Lakers

The Houston Rockets are looking to get back on track after a rough stretch of basketball through December. This month, they're 4-6, ranking 23rd in defensive rating and 29th in turnover percentage.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Rockets need to call Mike D’Antoni to help fix the offense

The Houston Rockets have hit a skid. (Even if Kevin Durant wants to downplay it). The Rockets have dropped four of their last five contests and have lost to each of the bottom-four teams in the Western Conference this month. It gets worse.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

The Rockets' Christmas List Includes More Connected Offense

The Houston Rockets have some glaring issues with their game plan as they have struggled to consistently pick up wins this season. Houston's inabilty to create open shots for their most effective players has led to their downfall, as Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun have had to put on a hero cape to lead Houston's offense in most games.

JD Davison News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

JD Davison's Time on the Rockets Could be Coming to a Close Soon

The Houston Rockets have been short-handed at the point guard spot for years. Fred VanVleet has taken on the mountain share of minutes since leaving the Toronto Raptors and coming to Houston.

Victor Wembanyama News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA Christmas Day 40-point games' quiz

In NBA history, a player has scored 40 or more points on Christmas Day on 30 occasions. How many of those can you name in five minutes?

The 'NBA all-time scoring leaders' quiz

The 'Most 40-point games in NBA history' quiz

The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz

Yao Ming News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

The Rockets Are Coming Full Circle in Their Christmas Matchup Against the Lakers

The Houston Rockets have had a long tradition of playing on Christmas Day. The Rockets have played on Christmas Day since their first season in the NBA, even before they became the Houston Rockets.

NBA News / Yardbarker

Which NBA teams have the best Christmas Day records?

Christmas and the NBA go hand-in-hand. The day serves for the top hoops league in the world, like Thanksgiving for the NFL. However, while the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are perpetual Thanksgiving participants, the NBA has mixed up the matchups and the teams throughout the years.

NBA News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

Several Rockets Questionable for Christmas Bout with Lakers

Tonight, the Rockets face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA’s Christmas Day slate. Houston is in desperate need of a pick-me-up game, having suffered five losses in their last seven tries.

Kevin Durant News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

Kevin Durant Sees Silver Lining in Spite of Rockets' Recent Slide

Kevin Durant has always been a man of perspective. He seemingly always keeps his cool. Even when being cursed out and singled out by the loquacious Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors several years back.

Houston Rockets News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 25

Rockets’ Dorian Finney-Smith trending toward season debut on Christmas vs. Lakers

On Thursday evening, the Houston Rockets will hit the floor on the road for a Christmas night matchup against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Amen Thompson News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

Amen Thompson Places Blame on Himself for Rockets' Recent Struggles

The Houston Rockets have hit rock bottom lately. At least based on the expectations placed on them entering the season. Which were valid for a team that finished second in the Western Conference and added an all-time great in Kevin Durant.

Houston Rockets News / Hoops Rumors / December 25

Dorian Finney-Smith Could Make Rockets Debut Today

Veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith could make his Rockets debut today when Houston faces the Lakers. He’s listed as questionable to play, according to Real GM.

Tari Eason News / The Dream Shake / December 25

Three gifts the Rockets need for Christmas

Happy Holidays, Rockets fans! With Christmas finally here, let’s take a look at what Rockets fans should be asking for this Christmas. After signing the forward to a four-year, $52.7 million contract, Dorian Finey-Smith underwent ankle surgery, which has led him to be unable to suit up for Houston yet this season.

Fred VanVleet News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 25

Fred VanVleet's Absence is Starting to Affect the Rockets

When Fred VanVleet went down with an ACL tear in late September, many of the Houston Rockets' detractors wrote them off in the NBA's hierarchy. They were no longer title contenders, rather a playoff team whose lack of a point guard would come back to bite them.

Kevin Durant News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

Kevin Durant's Lack of Opportunities With the Rockets Has Been Jarring

The Houston Rockets have had a rough month of basketball, with 2025 nearly over, most recently suffering a 128-108 loss to the LA Clippers on Tuesday night.

Reed Sheppard News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

Rockets Have Reportedly Grown Impressed with Reed Sheppard of Late

The Houston Rockets were one of the more active teams of the offseason. They clearly expected to contend. The Kevin Durant trade was proof. Ditto for

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NBA Christmas Day 40-point games' quiz

The 'Most 3-passing, 1-rushing TD games' quiz

The 'NFL's active 300-yard passers' quiz

The 'Multiple 3-rushing-TD games in a season' quiz

Alperen Sengun News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

Rockets' Alperen Sengun Garners MVP Consideration in ESPN's Straw Poll

The race for the NBA's 2025-26 MVP award will look very similar to how it's looked in past years. At least recent years. Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets all-world big man Nikola Jokic will likely be the top two vote-getters.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

What Can The Rockets Do To Elevate To An Elite Level?

The Houston Rockets just dropped a difficult game against the Los Angeles Clippers that was not close for much of the second half as the Clippers took control to finish the victory as they look to turn their season around.

Ime Udoka News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

The Houston Rockets Defense Has Been on Holiday All of December

The Houston Rockets have built an identity over the last few seasons since Ime Udoka took over the franchise in the summer of 2023. The Rockets heading into that offseason were a team without a positive reputation, focused mainly on player development rather than competing for wins night in and night out.

Jalen Green News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

Jalen Green Reported to Miss the Upcoming Houston Rockets Game Due to Injury.

When the Houston Rockets decided to trade away their franchise player at the time, James Harden, they knew they didn't want to bring in veterans in the trade and try to compete for just a play-in spot.

NBA News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 24

Rockets wanted championship spotlight — Lakers might expose them on Christmas

The Houston Rockets will play on Christmas Day, the NBA’s biggest regular-season stage, for the first time since 2019. It’s the kind of opportunity the Rockets envisioned when making the offseason trade for Kevin Durant.

Ime Udoka News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 24

Rockets HC Ime Udoka jabs Clippers while blasting his own team after embarrassing loss

On Tuesday evening, the Houston Rockets suffered their second straight puzzling loss with a road defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. Just two days after dropping a game against the lowly Sacramento Kings, the Rockets were unable to bounce back against the 8-21 Clippers, ultimately falling by a final score of 128-108.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / December 24

The Houston Rockets Have Lost Four of Five; What’s Next?

The Houston Rockets are tumbling down the Western Conference standings. After battling with Denver for the West’s No. 2 seed for the entirety of the first third of the season, Houston has now hit a cold stretch, and it’s certain to affect their postseason standing.

Houston Rockets News / Last Word On Sports / December 22