Ja Morant returns to Memphis as the Trail Blazers, 3‑0 this season, visit the Grizzlies on Thursday. Morant says he holds no grudges and aims for a championship, while coach Tuomas Iisalo stresses their past good relationship. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ Herbert Jones sees a career‑low 17 minutes per game but remains untouchable in trade talks, Houston’s Alperen Sengun deals with a back issue that could sideline him, and Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg bursts out with 25 points, 6.3 assists and 3.7 steals per game, eyeing a spot on the 2028 Team USA roster.
The Houston Rockets remain perfect to start the 2026-27 NBA season behind their incredible depth as they blow out the Milwaukee Bucks 132-100.
The Houston Rockets dominate the Milwaukee Bucks 132-100 on Oct. 28, 2026, at the Fiserv Forum. Fred VanVleet leads Houston with 24 points, while Amen Thompson adds 23 in the third quarter to push the lead to 95-69. Milwaukee’s Tyler Herro tops the Bucks with 23 points, but the team struggles offensively, shooting just 4‑of‑21 in the second quarter and never closing the gap. Despite a brief fourth‑quarter surge, the Bucks fall to 1‑4 on the season under coach Jenkins. The blowout highlights Houston’s balanced attack and defensive pressure against a struggling Bucks squad.
Fred VanVleet ignites the Houston Rockets with a scorching 15‑point burst in the third quarter, propelling the team to a 132‑100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 29, 2026. The 32‑year‑old guard finishes with 24 points on 7‑of‑14 shooting, adds six rebounds, five assists and two steals, and helps the Rockets stay unbeaten at 5‑0. VanVleet’s run includes a crossover on Jaime Jaquez Jr. followed by a pull‑up three, signaling his return to form after an ACL layoff. Houston heads to Dallas next to face the Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks have exercised the $17.4 million fourth‑year option on 21‑year‑old forward Zaccharie Risacher, confirming his stay for the 2027 season. Acquired in the three‑team deal that sent Luguentz Dort to Atlanta, Risacher has posted 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 30 minutes over four games, though his shooting is uneven (17.6% from three, 30.8% overall). He set a franchise debut record with five steals against the Rockets. Mavericks president Masai Ujiri, GM Mike Schmitz and coach Dusty May praise his defensive impact and hustle as he finds his role alongside stars Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
The Houston Rockets aim for a 5‑0 start as they travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Oct. 28, 2026, at 7 PM CST. The Rockets line up Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant and Tari Eason, while Milwaukee starts Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. The game will be broadcast on Space City Home Network and streamed on the SB Nation app, where fans can join the live chat. Will Houston keep its unbeaten streak?
Former Washington Wizards coach Brian Keefe isn’t surprised that James Harden still performs at an All‑Star level in his 18th season. Keefe, who worked with Harden from Oklahoma City through Houston and Brooklyn, credits the guard’s daily work ethic, early‑night shooting routines, and high basketball IQ for his longevity. The Cavaliers, who recently signed Harden to a three‑year, $97 million guarantee, hope his dedication will keep him effective alongside Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley for at least three more seasons. Keefe emphasizes that Harden’s consistent elite play is no accident—it’s the result of relentless preparation since day one.
Two losses to the Houston Rockets answered two important questions for the Atlanta Hawks.
The Raptors open October without Kawhi Leonard, who faces weeks on the bench after a swollen left knee MRI shows no structural damage, leaving Toronto to test the depth of players like Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray‑Boyles, Allen Graves, Kyle Anderson, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Meanwhile, the Mavericks must decide by Monday whether to pick up Zaccharie Risacher’s $17.4 million 2027‑28 option despite his 30.8% shooting, as his defense—eight steals and eight blocks in four games—offers promise. In Houston, Alperen Sengün suffers a mild back strain that could sideline him for a few games, prompting the Rockets to adjust their scoring and playmaking until he returns.
The Mavericks face a deadline to decide on exercising Zaccharie Rischer’s $17.4 million rookie option, with the former No. 1 pick battling a 30.8% field‑goal rate but leading the league in “stocks” (steals + blocks) at 16 in four games. Coach Dusty May praises his defensive impact despite missed shots. Meanwhile, Rockets center Alperen Şengün deals with a mild back strain that could sideline him for several games, while former NBA big man Omer Yurtseven joins the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ training camp. In Memphis, Ty Jerome rebounds from a calf injury, posting 29.8 points and 6.3 assists in a 4‑0 start and earning Player of the Week honors.
Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka says center Alperen Sengün will miss several games with a back injury. Sengün felt discomfort during the Rockets' recent win over the Atlanta Hawks but stayed in the game and contributed to the victory. The Turkish star’s condition remains uncertain, and Udoka expects him to sit out until the soreness eases.
Former NBA star Tracy McGrady says his greatest career disappointment was missing a chance to play Kobe Bryant in the 2009 playoffs. At the time McGrady was with the Houston Rockets, but a knee injury that led to microfracture surgery forced him out of the postseason, ending his season prematurely. He reflects on the missed matchup as a lingering regret, highlighting how the injury altered his playoff aspirations.
The Dallas Mavericks announce that stretch big Santi Aldama, acquired in a July six‑team deal, moves from the Texas Legends back to the active roster as part of his return‑to‑play protocol. Initially listed as "out," Aldama is now "doubtful" for the Wednesday game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and could debut on Friday versus the Houston Rockets or Monday versus the Sacramento Kings. Averaging 15 points per game last season, his floor‑running, lane‑filling skill set could bolster a Mavericks squad that already posted wins over Indiana, a healed Tyrese Haliburton, and a revamped Miami Heat.
The Bucks host the unbeaten Rockets as Kevin Durant looks to lead Houston to its fifth consecutive victory.
The Hawks face the Heat and Cavaliers as they look to bounce back from two poor 3-point shooting losses to the Rockets.
The Milwaukee Bucks clinch a narrow win over the Indiana Pacers and keep forward Pete Nance on the roster after he rejected two‑way offers from the Lakers and 76ers. Insider Marc Stein reports the Bucks persuaded the 26‑year‑old, who went undrafted in 2023 and has shuffled between teams, to stay with Milwaukee on another two‑way deal. Nance appeared in 47 games last season, starting six, providing size and athleticism at power forward. The Bucks, now in a rebuilding phase, host the Houston Rockets Wednesday night.
The NBA injury roundup for Wednesday, Oct. 28 shows Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero officially out, joining Jimmy Butler and Alperen Şengün on the sidelines. Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving and Lauri Markkanen are listed as questionable, while AJ Dybantsa is back in the Washington rotation. Minnesota faces a tough 10‑game stretch without Edwards, and other teams must adjust to the cascade of absences.
The Houston Rockets lose star center Alperen Sengun to low‑back soreness for Wednesday’s 8 p.m. ET showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks, threatening their 4‑0 start to the 2026‑27 season. Sengun—averaging a career‑high 24.5 points, nine rebounds and seven assists—had just posted a near triple‑double (29‑9‑9) against Atlanta. The injury report also sidelines Steven Adams (right soleus strain) and lists Marcus Smart as questionable, while two‑way players Quadir Copeland and Julian Phillips remain in the G League. Coach Ime Udoka must reshuffle the frontcourt as Houston aims to stay unbeaten.
The Houston Rockets’ 2026‑27 title window suddenly widens as the Oklahoma City Thunder lose key players Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren to injuries, and the San Antonio Spurs struggle with a mismatched three‑guard line‑up. With the Thunder likely missing significant contributors and the Spurs stuck in a roster logjam, the Rockets could climb to the league’s top three if they stay healthy and make a smart, low‑key addition—perhaps a reliable backup big man—rather than chasing high‑profile but underperforming veterans. The article argues that timing and prudent trades are crucial as the offseason market remains thin.
The Boston Celtics edged out a hungry Brooklyn Nets squad on Oct. 28, 2026, earning their second straight win of the season. Jayson Tatum dominated, drawing constant free throws, attacking the rim, and sealing the game with a buzzer‑beating clutch shot. When the three‑pointer faltered, coach Joe Mazzulla shifted the offense inside, with 38% of shots taken within four feet—a strategic tweak fans have praised. The win sets the stage for upcoming matchups against the Chicago Bulls on Friday and the Houston Rockets on Saturday, discussed in today’s Celtics Chronicle podcast with Adam and Mike Weber.
The Milwaukee Bucks (1‑3) aim for their first win streak of the season as they host the unbeaten Houston Rockets (4‑0) on Oct. 28 at Fiserv Forum. After a 110‑102 victory over the Pacers, the Bucks count on Tyler Herro and a settled Kel’el Ware to challenge a Rockets team led by Kevin Durant’s 23.5 PPG and Alperen Sengun (out with back soreness). With Steven Adams also sidelined, Houston will rely on Clint Capela and defensive specialist Tari Eason, who is shooting over 60% TS. Bucks bench scorer Nate Ament is projected for a double‑digit night. Game starts 7 p.m. CDT, broadcast on MY24.
Victor Wembanyama bursts onto the 2026‑27 NBA season as the league’s blocks leader, averaging just over four per game in his first four outings. After posting six blocks vs. Oklahoma City, two against Houston, four in Dallas and five against Sacramento, he’s already climbed the all‑time blocks leaderboard, moving from 224th at the end of 2025‑26 to a tie for 211th with Carmelo Anthony. The article lists the 13 players he passed, including Kobe Bryant and Andre Iguodala, and notes that 30 active players still rank above him as he chases the title of greatest blocker ever.
The Atlanta Hawks sit at 2-2 early in the 2026-27 season, riding a fast‑pace style (102.5 possessions per 48 minutes) fueled by a league‑leading 13.9% defensive turnover rate. Dyson Daniels tops the NBA with 14 steals in four games and contributes 14 assists to just three turnovers, acting as a “false center” in the offense. The Hawks’ three‑point volume rises to 44.6% of shot attempts, but their 33.1% long‑range accuracy and low corner‑three rate (27th) suggest early shooting variance. Despite a disappointing loss to the Houston Rockets, the team’s pace and defensive hustle provide optimism for the remaining 78 games.
After the Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks, coach Ime Udoka reveals veteran center Steven Adams will miss at least one to two weeks. Adams could return between the Celtics game on Nov. 2 and the Nuggets game on Nov. 9. This marks his third injury‑plagued season, raising questions about his reliability and whether Houston should have secured another backup center. The post‑game note also previews the Rockets' next matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Houston Rockets enter the matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks riding a rare 4‑0 start, their best opening stretch in over a decade. Meanwhile, the Bucks sit at 1‑3 after a win over Indiana, highlighted by Tyler Herro’s 23 points and seven assists. The Bucks, now featuring Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and rookie Nate Ament from the Giannis trade, are hoping to bounce back against a Rockets squad missing Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams. The game airs at 7 p.m. CT on Space City Home Network.