Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

New Rockets Player to Miss Season Opener Against Thunder

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 6:00 PM ET

The Rockets open the season tonight against the Thunder.
Houston has a largely new roster after a busy offseason.
Free agent pickup Dorian Finney-Smith will miss tonight’s game as he recovers from injury.

The Houston Rockets finally made the leap that everyone expected last season and made the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2019-20, when they still had point guard James Harden.

They lost a hard-fought seven-game series to the Golden State Warriors, but young stars Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun showed so much promise that Houston knew they had to go all in.

That’s exactly what they did, unloading former No. 2 pick Jalen Green and gritty forward Dillon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant.

Oct 8, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) brings the ball up the court during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesTroy Taormina-Imagn Images

One of the Rockets’ more underrated pickups of the offseason was forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has earned himself the reputation of one of the most valuable three-and-D wing players in the league.

Unfortunately, he is set to miss the team’s season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder as he recovers from an ankle injury that he played through last season.

Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) listed out for Tuesday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) October 20, 2025

The Rockets have sufficient replacements for Finney-Smith, but he was expected to aid the team with his dependable shooting, something they severely lacked last season.

Durant will certainly help in that area, but their reported starting lineup doesn’t offer much room for comfort.

Houston will start two big men in Sengun and Steven Adams, with lengthy wing Jabari Smith Jr. in the frontcourt and Durant and Thompson at the guard spots.

Rockets starting the ALL-TALL lineup on opening night pic.twitter.com/vH70HAyoMw
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) October 20, 2025

The Rockets are hoping a player of Durant’s caliber can lead them to true title contention, but depth and role players will be a pivotal factor in that dream, so they need Finney-Smith back as soon as possible.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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