HOUSTON HOLDS OFF INDIANA AND WINS AGAIN

Kevin Durant had another 30 points game as he led the Rockets to a 126-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers. He also had 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Alpi did not play for the 2nd straight game due to calf injury. Steven Adams started in his place and Tari Eason started again as well. Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Amen Thompson did great with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Tari Eason had 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Reed Sheppard did will with 13 points off the bench. The Rockets have now won 3 in a row after losing 4 out of 5.

KD LEADS THE ROCKETS TO SECOND STRAIGHT WIN

With Alpi out for the night, Kevin Durant didn’t hesitate to put up the slack and dominate like he is known to do. He scored 30 points and dished out 7 assists to go with 4 rebounds in 28 minutes. Reed Sheppard also had another big night as he put in 18 points to go with his 8 assists and 5 steals. Steven Adams started in the place of Alpi and did well with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Amen Thompson had 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Tari Eason started for the second straight game and had 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Clint Capela crashed the boards and had 8 rebounds to go with 4 points off the bench. Josh Okogie did well with 8 off the bench also. Dorian Finney-Smith scored his first points as a Rocket, having 3 in 18 minutes.

ROCKETS TAKE STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION WITH WIN AGAINST LAKERS

It has been a tough week for Houston, but they showed progress in the right direction by defeating the Lakers 119-96. Amen Thompson led the way with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kevin Durant made 4 threes that contributed to him having 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jabari finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Alpi was questionable before the game but did play and had 14 points to go with his 12 rebounds. Tari Eason got to start tonight for a change and did well 13 points and 4 steals. Reed Sheppard did his part as usual with 13 points off the bench, while Steven Adams also did what he usually does by grabbing 9 rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith made his return from injury, but only shot the ball once and finished with 0 points in 13 minutes.

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES IN LOSS TO CLIPPERS

The Rockets have now lost 4 out of their last 5 games as they attempt to correct their faults as a team and play to their potential. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden made it difficult for Houston as Kawhi had 41 points and Harden had 29, but the Rockets ultimately lost because they failed to play the game the way they are capable. They are going to have to do better defensively if they are going to win a championship. Kevin Durant finished with 22 points and 5 rebounds while Alpi had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Amen Thompson contributed with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists while Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points. Every loss is painful but, as Kevin Durant said in the post-game interview, the losses are going to make them better.

ROCKETS LOSE TO KINGS IN OVERTIME 125-124

Houston was up 14 points in the 4th quarter, but the Kings managed to comeback and force overtime where they would secure the win. Kings were down by 2 late in overtime when Dennis Schroder hit a three-pointer to give them the lead. KD did get an opportunity for game winner but missed. He finished the game with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Alpi led the way with 28 points and 6 rebounds. Tari Eason finally made his return from injury and did well with 16 points in 15 minutes. Amen had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jabari also had 18 points. Reed had 15 points and 4 assists off the bench.

KD AND ROCKETS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST NUGGETS

After losing back-to-back games for the first time since the beginning of the season, the Rockets have now recovered by defeating Denver 115-101. Kevin Durant was showing out and leading the way as he finished with 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Reed Sheppard also made a lot of noise as he hit a career-high 6 threes and scored 28 points to go with his 6 assists. Jabari took care of business to by having 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Amen contributed with 16 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds while Steven Adams did what he does best by grabbing 12 rebounds off the bench. Alpi unfortunately had a quite night as he only had 8 points on 4 of 9 shooting.

BIG LEAD GETS BLOWN AS HOUSTON LOSES ANOTHER IN OVERTIME

Despite having a 22-point lead at halftime, the Rockets suffered another devastating loss in overtime to the Pelicans. Kevin Durant had a great first quarter and overall game as he put in 32 points, 7 assists, and 4 blocks. Alpi nearly had another triple double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Amen Thompson did good with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jabari had 12 points to go with 12 rebounds, while Josh Okogie finished with 10 points and Reed Sheppard had 11 off the bench. The 18 turnovers and second half effort they had were detrimental. After the game, Kevin Durant said that they didn’t play with enough energy or sense of urgency in 3rd quarter due to being too relaxed and thinking they had the game won already.

ROCKETS FALL IN OVERTIME DESPITE ALPI’S TRIPLE-DOUBLE

It’s always a great match when Alpi and Nikola Jokic play each other. Both of them finished with a triple-double and the game went into overtime, but the Nuggets pulled out the win thanks to a 8-0 run in OT. Alpi finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kevin Durant also did what he is known to do by scoring 25 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks. Josh Okogie stepped it up some as he had 16 points in 27 minutes. Jabari also put in 16 points as Reed and Amen both had 14. Amen had 12 rebounds and 6 assists as well.

AMEN THOMPSON COMES IN CLUTCH AGAINST CLIPPERS

Amen scored 20 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 8 assists while coming in clutch in Houston’s first game back after a few days off and a loss to the Mavericks. Alpi missed the last 2 games with illness but had a great return as he finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Jabari played great too by scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. KD had 16 points, while Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday continued to produce off the bench as Holiday had 13 points and Reed had 10. The final score was 115-113.

ROCKETS LOSE TO MAVERICKS 122-109

With Alpi out again with illness and Steven Adams out for rest, Clint Capela started and the Rockets were short-handed. Kevin Durant did his part of course and finished with 27 points, and Jabari did good too as he had 22 points to go with 8 rebounds. Amen Thompson struggled offensively as he only had 7 points, but he did 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. A dominant 3rd quarter by the Mavs is ultimately what led to the Rockets not regaining control of the game and losing. Aaron Holiday did have another good game though as he had 19 points in 26 minutes, and Reed Sheppard also contributed 12 points in 20 minutes. The next game will be on the 18th against the Pelicans.

KD BECOMES 8TH PLAYER IN HISTORY WITH 31,000 POINTS

Kevin Durant is now the 8th highest scorer of all time in NBA History. He finished the game with 28 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals as the Rockets blew out the Phoenix Suns 117-98. Amen Thompson broke a record as he scored his season high with 31 points. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed as usual with 16 points, while Reed Sheppard and Aaron did well off the bench again as Reed finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in 20 minutes while Aaron Holiday had 10 points in 29 minutes. Steven Adams and Josh Okogie both started tonight as Steven added 4 points to his 8 rebounds and 3 steals while Okogie had 6 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes. Alpi did not play tonight due to illness. The next game is tomorrow against the Mavericks.

KD, ALPI, AND AMEN LEAD ROCKETS TO VICTORY

Alperen scored his 5,000th career point as he led a well-balanced attack by the Rockets against the Kings. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. Alpi’s number of assists was lower than usual, but Durant made up the difference by dishing 8 assists to go with his 24 points. Amen Thompson had a near triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. When KD, Alpi, and Amen scored at least 20 points each, they will be hard to beat. Jabari also did well as he contributed with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Steven Adams was great off the bench again with 11 points and 8 rebounds. The next game is on the 5th against Phoenix.

JAZZ PREVAIL DESPITE EFFORTS FROM ROCKETS’ STARS

In the first time playing games on back-to-back nights this season, the Rockets lost 133-125 against the Utah Jazz. Alperen had a great night as he finished with 31 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks, but it unfortunately wasn’t enough to get the victory. KD even had 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists to go with Amen Thompson’s 23 points and 8 rebounds. Jabari contributed with 12 points and Aaron Holiday had 10 off the bench, but Reed Sheppard only had 9 in 23 minutes. Steven Adams did not play. The next game is on the 3rd against the Kings.

ROCKETS SOAR PAST JAZZ 129-101

Rockets are now 13-4 on the season after winning their third straight game in a victory against the Utah Jazz. Alperen led the way in scoring with 27 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Kevin Durant was right behind him with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jabari contributed with 15 points, while Steven Adams made a big difference off the bench with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Reed Sheppard remained in the starting lineup and finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Aaron Holiday also had another solid game as he had 11 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Amen Thompson only had 5 points on 2 of 8 shooting, but he did finish with 8 rebounds and 9 assists. These 2 teams will play again tomorrow as well.

WARRIORS GET DEFEATED IN BATTLE

Reed Sheppard continued to prove his worth as he finished with a career high in points and rebounds, scoring 31 and grabbing 9 rebounds to go along with 5 assists. It was also a great night for the team on the boards as they had the 25 offensive rebounds, which is the most they have had since 2007. Amen had 14 rebounds for himself to go with his 10 points, and Capela did great on boards too as he had 12 rebounds to go with his 6 points. Alpi contributed with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jabari finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Aaron Holiday did great off the bench again as he put in 14 points. The next game is on the 30th against the Jazz.

ROCKETS SCORCH SUNS 114-92

Despite KD being out for the game, Rockets still had a good team effort as they defeated the Phoenix Suns. Amen Thompson led the way with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Aaron Holiday showed up big off the bench as he finished with 22 points in 27 minutes. Houston shot 48.9% from the field and 41.9% from threes. Reed Sheppard finally started but only scored 7 points to go with 3 steals in 26 minutes. Alpi had a solid game as he scored 18 points to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Jabari also did well as he contributed with 17 points and 7 rebounds.

KEVIN DURANT WILL MISS NEXT 2 GAMES

Although he has plans to return back to the lineup after just 2 games off, he unfortunately will miss both matches against his former teams – Phoenix and Golden State. The specific details of what he will be doing has not been revealed but he will be tending to family matters so hopefully everything is alright and he will be back against the Jazz on the 30th as expected for the 2nd half of the team’s 4 game road trip.

WINNING STREAK ENDS AS ROCKETS LOSE 112-109

It was a slow start for Houston, but they started to pick up the pace in the 2nd quarter as Reed Sheppard scored 18 in just that quarter. He finished the game with 27 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Amen and Jabari both played well as Amen finished with 22 points plus 7 rebounds and Jabari had 21 points with 11 rebounds. Alpi and KD both struggled though. Alperen scored 14 points to go with 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Durant added 13 points and 7 rebounds. The next game is on the 24th against Suns.

CAVALIER COMEBACK AVOIDED BY ALPI AND ROCKETS

Cleveland cut the lead down several times but Houston outscored them 37-28 in the 4th quarter, included a 15-6 run in final 3 minutes, to ensure that their attempts would not lead to victory. Rockets shot 45.6% from the field and outrebounded Cavs 60-51 with 16 rebounds being offensive. Alpi and Steven Adams both had 11 rebounds each. Alperen also scored 28 points to go with 7 assists, while Durant finished with 20 points. Aaron Holiday had huge 4th quarter and game to contribute with 18 points. Amen only had 12 points but still had great game as he also had 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals. Jabari also scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, while Reed had 12 points in 22 minutes. The next game will be a showdown between Alpi and Jokic as Rockets face the Nuggets on the 21st.

ROCKETS MAGICALLY DEFEAT ORLANDO IN OVERTIME

Despite trailing the majority of the game, Houston managed to force overtime and come out on top 117-113 in the end. KD and Alpi combined for 65 points, with KD having 35 and Alpi having 30. Alperen also had 12 rebounds and 8 assists, while Durant had 5 rebounds and 6 assists. They both made some huge plays down the stretch. Amen and Jabari both finished with double doubles as Amen had 12 points with 10 rebounds and Jabari had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Reed played well again as he contributed with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Aaron Holiday also did good off the bench with 10 points in 15 minutes and Steven Adams played his role well as he finished with 13 rebounds. The next game is Wednesday against Cleveland.

TARI EASON OUT 4-6 WEEKS WITH INJURY

In the 2nd quarter of the game against Portland on November 14th, Tari Eason collided with Jrue Holiday and was helped into the locker after being taken out of the game. It was initially thought to be a right hip contusion, but the final diagnosis is that is a strained oblique. It is unfortunate loss because Tari has averaged 11.5 points per game on 49.5 shooting from the field and 50.9% shooting from 3-point range in 11 games despite coming off the bench. Jae’Sean Tate and Jeff Green are 2 of the players who are likely to see more minutes because of this.

ROCKETS RUN OFF ON BLAZERS

Houston continued to play well together offensively and defensively in a 140-116 victory over Portland. They shot 50% from field and 37.8% from three, while also forcing 20 turnovers with 16 steals and only committing 6 turnovers themselves. Alpi had another near triple double as he had 25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. KD also had a great night of course as he finished with 30. Jabari contributed with 22, and Amen finished with 19. Josh Okogie played well with 11 points and 4 steals. Reed Sheppard seemed to steal the show in the 4th quarter as he continued to play well while finishing with 13 points and 4 steals in 25 minutes. Aaron Holiday also did great off the bench as he had 10 points in 13 minutes. Steven Adams had 5 points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes. Unfortunately, Tari Eason left the game in 2nd quarter with a right hip contusion and did not return.

REED CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN WIN AGAINST WIZARDS

It was another well-balanced attack for the Rockets as the defeated the Wizards 135-112. Kevin Durant led the Rockets in scoring with 23, but it almost seemed like Reed Sheppard was the leader for the team tonight as he had 21 points and 5 threes. Tari Eason also had a great game off the bench as he finished with 20. Amen contributed greatly as well with 18 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Alperen added points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jabari also had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Houston outrebounded Washington 61-46 including 20 offensive rebounds, while shooting 50% from three. They finished with 32 assists, 9 steals, and 6 blocks. The next game is on the 14th against Blazers.

ROCKETS HUNT DOWN BUCKS IN COMEBACK VICTORY

Houston has now won 6 out of their last 7 games thanks to a 4th quarter comeback against the Bucks that led to a 122-115 win. Kevin Durant had a great game and scored 31 points to go along with 7 assists. Alperen came in clutch to help Rockets get the victory and he finished with another near triple double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Reed Sheppard continued to be valuable as he scored 16 points for his 2nd game in a row. Jabari also had 16 points with his 9 rebounds. Amen had 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists while Steven Adams had a good game off the bench with 12 points and 6 rebounds. The next game is on the 12th against the Wizards.

5-GAME WIN STREAK ENDS AGAINST SPURS

The bad thing about all winning streaks is the eventually have to end. Unfortunately for the Rockets, tonight was that night as their comeback attempts fell shorts and they lost to the Spurs 121-110. Alperen led the way in stats for the Rockets as he concluded with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Kevin Durant played also played a big role by scoring 24, while Reed Sheppard showed up to contribute with 16 points and 6 assists. Josh Okogie got away with 5 steals to go with his 12 points. Amen only had 14 points and Jabari only had 5, but Tari Eason did have 11 off the bench. The next game is against Giannis and the Bucks on the 9th at 2:30 pm.

ALPEREN AND AMEN CONTINUE TO DOMINATE AGAINST GRIZZLIES

Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson both finished with near triple-doubles again as the Rockets defeated the Grizzlies 128-109. Amen scored 28 points to go with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, as Alpi had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kevin Durant had a slower than usual night with only 11 points, but he also isn’t needed to score 30 every night with a team as well-rounded as Houston. Josh Okogie had a good game as he scored 13 points while making 3 threes. Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points in his return after missing 1 game with minor injury. Tari Eason also had 16 and Reed Sheppard had 12 off the bench. Clint Capela added 6 points to go with his 10 boards off the bench as well.

AMEN AND ROCKETS TOO MUCH FOR MAVERICKS

Amen Thompson came out incredible in the first half and had 20 points at the break. He had many amazingly athletic plays and finished with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Alperen Şengün had a great game as well with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was near fouling out but still made some crucial plays near end of game to help Rockets get the victory. Durant also contributed with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Tari Eason started in the place of injured Jabari Smith Jr. and played well as he scored 15. Aaron Holiday did great in his 9 minutes by scoring 6 points. Clint Capela and Steven Adams both did great on the boards as Adams grabbed 9 rebounds and Capela grabbed 8. The next game is on the 5th against the Grizzlies.

ROCKETS CLOBBER CELTICS

Thanks to a great team-balanced effort, Houston has now won 3 in a row after starting the season 0-2. Kevin Durant led the team scoring-wise with 26 points in 29 minutes. Şengün and Amen both had near triple doubles as Alpi had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Amen finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. added 12 points and 6 assists, while Josh Okogie continued to be productive with 12 points on 3 of 4 three-point shooting. Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason both did well off the bench as they both scored 12 points off 4 threes each. The next game will be on the 3rd against the Dallas Mavericks.

TEAM OPTIONS FOR AMEN AND REED EXTENDED

Contract options for Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have officially been extended for the 2026-2027 season, which will ensure that they remain with team for next season at predetermined salaries ($12.3 million for Thompson and $11.1 million for Sheppard). Both players will of course still be eligible for longer-term contract extensions in the future, with Thompson able to sign one as soon as the 2026 offseason. So far this season, Amen is averaging 15.0 PPG, 5.8 APG, and 6.0 RPG as starting point guard and Reed is averaging 10.4 PPG (36.4% on 3-pointers) and 3.4 APG in 21.4 MPG coming off the bench behind Thompson.

ROCKETS CONTINUE TO RISE AGAINST RAPTORS

It was another high scoring night for the Rockets as the finished with 139 points to defeat the Raptors by 18. Toronto made some attempts to comeback and cut the lead a few times, but Houston seemed to be in control the whole game. KD led the way for Houston with 31 points and Jabari Smith Jr. had a great game as well by scoring 25 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Şengün and Amen both had 18 points. Alpi had 8 rebounds and 9 assists as well. Tari Eason and Steven Adams both had good games off the bench. Adams had 12 points and 12 points, while Tari had 14 points and 5 rebounds. Josh Okogie added 10 points and Reed Sheppard had 7. Houston is now 2-2 for the season so far and their next game is on November 1st against the Celtics.

ROCKETS TAKEOFF ON NETS TO WIN 1ST REGULAR SEASON GAME

Houston finally got their first regular season victory with a 137-109 win over the Nets. They shot 57.6% from the field, 88.5% from free-throw line, and 50% from threes. Tari Eason led the way with 22 points on 5 of 7 shooting from three-point range. Alperen Şengün finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists while KD had 19 points in 24 minutes. Reed scored 15 and Amen scored 12, but they both also had career highs with 8 assists each. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed as usual with 11 points and Josh Okogie, who started in place of Steven Adams, had 10 points as well. Clint Capela added 8 points off the bench in 13 minutes. The next game is on the 29th against the Raptors.

DURANT’S 37 POINTS NOT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT DETROIT

It was another close game for Houston in their first home game of the season, but unfortunately it was another loss as the Pistons held off the Rockets to win 115-111. KD led the way for Houston with 37 points and Şengün had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but it wasn’t enough to get the victory. Steven Adams had good game with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jabari finished with 11, and Amen added 10. Reed Sheppard and Josh Okogie both played well off the bench as Reed scored 9 and Josh scored 10. The next game will be on the 27th against the Nets.

ROCKETS FALL SHORT IN DOUBLE OVERTIME

It was a long a good season-opener against the Thunder but unfortunately OKC came out with the 125-124 victory. After Alperen Şengün put the Rockets up by one point with a layup, Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander, who then sealed the win with two free throws. Şengün finished 3 assists short of a triple double as he scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his 7 assists. KD finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Amen contributed with 18 points and Jabari had 16. Reed Sheppard scored 9 and Josh Okogie scored 8 off the bench. The next game is on the 24th against Detroit.

KD SIGNS TWO-YEAR EXTENSION FOR 90 MILLION

It’s another great day for Rockets’ basketball as Durant signs contract extension that can keep him with Houston through the 2027-2028 season. It includes a player option for the 2nd season. Durant was eligible for a larger extension (up to $122 million) but chose this deal which provides Rockets with financial flexibility. Based on current and future salaries, he holds the record for highest career earnings in NBA history. KD said at media day last month that he expected to sign extension. “Just seeing the quick progression of this franchise from where it was right after the James Harden-Chris Paul era, seeing how Ime got here and how it turned around so fast… It just felt organic and natural coming into the gym and being a Houston Rocket for the first time,” Durant said. Signing with Houston brought KD back to Texas, where he was college player of the year for Longhorns.

SHORT-HANDED ROCKETS STILL BLASTOFF AGAINST HAWKS

The majority of main players for Rockets did not play because it was last game of preseason, but the rest of the team showed up in more way than one. Reed Sheppard showed out with 29 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Josh Okogie finished with 28 points and 3 blocks. Isaiah Crawford added 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Aaron Holiday contributed with 16 points and 6 assists. JD Davidson also had 14 points and Kevon Harris had 10. It was great to see all the younger players playing together so well but Jeff Green even had a great game with 16 points and 8 rebounds as Rockets won 133-115. Houston Finishes preseason 4-0 and will begin regular season on the 21st against the Thunder.

AARON HOLIDAY HITS GAME-WINNER AGAINST PELICANS

Rockets continued to excel in the preseason as they defeated the Pelicans 130-128. They maintained control throughout most of game and were up by 14 going into the 4th quarter but a late run by New Orleans led by Jeremiah Fears forced Aaron Holiday to put in a floater with 1.8 seconds left that led Houston to a victory. Jabari Smith Jr. had a great game with 26 points and 5 rebounds, while Amen also dominated with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Tari finished with 20 points, Durant with 15, and Reed Sheppard with 13. Şengün only had 8 points but still had a good game with 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Houston’s next game is against Atlanta on the 16th.

KEVIN DURANT SCORES 20 IN 1ST GAME WITH ROCKETS

KD made an impressive debut as a Rocket by scoring 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting in 23 minutes to help Houston to a 140-127 win over Utah. Şengün also had great game with 13 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Amen Thompson made a big impact with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. also had 18 points while Reed Sheppard had 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. The next game for Rockets will be on the 14th against the Pelicans.

ROCKETS CLIP HAWKS WINGS IN PRE-SEASON VICTORY

Even with Kevin Durant out, it was still a great day for Rockets basketball as the got off to good start in pre-season with 122-113 victory over Atlanta. Alperen Şengün led the way with 19 points, while JD Davidson added 17 points off the bench. Amen Thompson finished with 11 Tari Eason had 10, Jabari Smith Jr. had 9, and Reed Sheppard had 7. Several players had good game off the bench too. Kevon Harris had 9 while Steven Adams, Aaron Holiday, Clint Capela, and Josh Okogie all contributed with 8 points each. Their next game is on the 8th against the Jazz.

VANVLEET SUFFERS TORN ACL

Just weeks before the upcoming season, Fred VanVleet has torn his ACL and is expected to be sidelined for possibly the entire season. His leadership, playmaking, and stability in the backcourt will be missed, but hopefully it will serve as an opportunity for others to step up, especially Reed Sheppard. The Rockets could possibly look to bring in a veteran guard to help fill the position. Fred averaged 14.1 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 3.7 RPG last season.

FRED VANVLEET ELECTED PRESIDENT OF NBA PLAYERS UNION

Fred will succeed Cj McCollum as president of NBPA and begin his 4-year term immediately. McCollum will now transition to an advisory role. Afterwards, VanVleet said, “It’s truly an honor to be elected as President of the NBPA by my peers and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interest of all the members”. Being a leader off the court is nothing new for him, though. He founded the VanVleet Family Foundation to increase access and exposure for youth through educational opportunities, athletic programs, and career development.

ROCKETS SIGN DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH AND CLINT CAPELA

Houston continues to make good moves this off-season as they sign Dorian Finney-Smith from the Lakers to a 4 year contract with $53 million and former Rocket Clint Capela to a 3 year contract worth $21.5 million. Recent acquisitions have given the Rockets more depth inside and out. They are doing a good job of improving in areas where they seemed to be lacking in the previous season and I’m sure there is more that will be occurring in the near future that will increase their chances of winning a championship.

JABARI SMITH JR. AGREES TO 5 YEAR DEAL WORTH $122M

The Rockets have been doing a great job of making sure they don’t lose players who are important to them, and Jabari Smith Jr. is definitely valuable to them. The 6’10” forward who came into the NBA as the 3rd overall pick averaged 12.2 points and 7 rebounds last season. He is constantly improving and proving his worth to the team. He is a good shooter, ball handler, and is versatile defensively with his ability to guard multiple positions. The addition of Kevin Durant to the team should also help him develop more and reach his full potential.

KEVIN DURANT TRADE GIVES HIGH HOPES TO ROCKETS

The Houston Rockets are turning dreams into reality after trading Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, their #10 draft pick, and 5 second round picks in exchange for Kevin Durant. They were already coming off a great season, and now have even greater chances to win a championship after the trade. Durant and the city of Houston are more than excited about what the future holds. The sky is the limit and the Rockets are ready to blast off!

FRED VANVLEET RESIGNS FOR 2 YEARS AND $50M

Though the Rockets lost in first round, Fred’s playoff experience helped give the youthful team a chance to win as he increased his regular season PPG average from 14.1 to 18.7. The Rockets believe his leadership and experience are 2 of the things that are needed to help them reach their potential in the future and made sure to let him know his value to them. Houston also recently resigned Steven Adams, Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jeff Green who previously played alongside Durant in Brooklyn and Seattle. Ime Udoka also agreed to a contract extension.