This year's Houston Rockets team has a bit of everything. They've got established, young stars in Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun. The latter has already unequivocally become one of the best 10 players at his position, drawing comparisons to Nikola Jokic, who has won multiple MVPs.
The Houston Rockets started their 2025-26 season on the road, taking on the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets led for most of the way before the Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, mounted a comeback to force overtime.
Coming into the 2025-26 regular season, many people expected the Houston Rockets' defense to take a hit after losing key on-ball defenders due to trades and injury.
The impact of losing Fred VanVleet before the season has culminated in a few difficult losses for the Houston Rockets. Two tight games resulted in clutch defeats after some inconsistencies on both sides of the floor.
The Rockets are winless and frustrated, and according to Kevin Durant, that’s exactly how they should feel. “Coaching staff is pissed off, players are pissed off,” Durant said, via ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime after Houston’s 115–111 home loss to the Pistons on Friday night.
Hakeem The Dream, Clyde The Glide, Magic: The NBA has produced some incredible nicknames over the decades. Some, like Magic and Penny, have even come to largely replace the player's actual name.
All throughout the offseason we'd heard about just how good of a team the Houston Rockets were going to be in 2025-26. Houston was an up-and-coming team that came out of nowhere and leaped to second in the Western Conference in 2024-25, nabbing 52 wins in the process.
If the OKC game was exciting, frustrating and encouraging in equal measure, this game was pure frustration. The Rockets have started the year playing two “Can’t Call ‘Em All” defenses, though Detroit is actually a more extreme version.
Cade Cunningham sank two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining, and the Detroit Pistons held on for a 115-111 road victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Coming off a grinding double-overtime loss against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder from Tuesday's regular season opener, the Houston Rockets got two days of rest as they headed back to the Space City for their first home game.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duran may be in good standing with the organization. However, that isn’t the case with Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson.
Coming into the season, the Houston Rockets were always set to rely on Reed Sheppard to take a leap from reserve to rotation contributor. After a disappointing rookie season marred by limited minutes and poor efficiency, the 21-year-old is ready to take on more responsibilities.
The Houston Rockets battled the reigning champions to a double-overtime contest that resulted in a defeat in game one for the Rockets. Moving into their second game, they're looking for the same level of success for the offense and better results for the defense.
If opening night proved anything to the Houston Rockets, it was that even without Fred VanVleet, this team can compete with the best. To kick off the season, they took the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder to double overtime, losing by just one point.
The Houston Rockets open the 2025-26 season in Oklahoma City, taking on the defending champion on the night they received their championship ring. The game was Kevin Durant's debut with the Rockets, the team's most significant acquisition in over a decade.
While the NBA has become a league driven by depth and youth, star power will always be needed. Teams need a leader, or at least a player who can take over late in the game and provide that offensive spark.
John Wall knows a thing or two about point guard play. The man was one of the league's better point guards of the 2010s, en route to a borderline Hall of Fame career.
Alperen Sengun showed a glimpse of what could be a new dimension in his game. The Rockets big man — who made just 21 threes all of last season — knocked down 5-of-8 from deep in Tuesday’s OT loss to the Thunder.
While the Houston Rockets' deployment of the tallest starting lineup since the NBA began tracking starters has generated ample ballyhoo, their decision to eschew utilizing a traditional point guard could yield greater ramifications.
With one game done in the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets already have a prominent issue. Everyone knew that losing Fred VanVleet would be a big blow, but it was evident during the Rockets' 125-124 double overtime loss.
The Houston Rockets got a sweet shooting addition to their front court to open up their offense in the new season. But it wasn't the one they expected in Tuesday's 125-124 2OT loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Houston Rockets tipped off the NBA season Tuesday with a towering five starting lineup that could make history, and it might also mark Kevin Durant’s final real chance to win a championship without the help of the Golden State Warriors.