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.
The Dallas Mavericks announce rookie Sergio De Larrea is out for Wednesday’s 8:30 p.m. CT game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a right‑knee sprain, ending his brief return after a hard fall in the second quarter on Monday. Kyrie Irving remains questionable after logging 32:40 in the 113‑109 win over Miami, his third game back from a torn ACL. Coach Dusty May praised De Larrea as a "tough kid" but expects imaging tomorrow to determine the outlook. The Mavericks also list Naji Marshall (illness), Caleb Martin (thumb), Santi Aldama (knee surgery), Tarik Biberović (heel) and Dereck Lively II (foot surgery) as injuries as they head into a three‑game homestand (Thunder, Rockets, Kings).
The Houston Rockets start the 2026‑27 season 4‑0, snapping the Atlanta Hawks’ unbeaten run with a 120‑110 win at the Toyota Center. Alperen Şengün sparks the offense, hitting his sixth three‑pointer and finishing with a crucial layup in the third quarter, while Kevin Durant adds 4 blocks and highlights his defensive impact. Injuries sideline Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams (out at least a week) and Marcus Smart (potentially back Wednesday), prompting coach Ime Udoka to adjust the lineup, moving Reed Sheppard to the bench. Post‑game, Udoka praises the team’s chemistry, and Durant and Şengün discuss the strong start and offseason preparations.
John Hollinger praises the NBA’s new anti‑tanking lottery but warns that loopholes still let teams like the Brooklyn Nets benefit from finishing in the bottom three, especially with Houston’s option to swap first‑round picks. ESPN’s Bobby Marks highlights Tyrese Maxey, Anthony Edwards and Zach LaVine as contract watch‑outs, noting Maxey and Edwards could qualify for super‑max deals by making an All‑NBA team, while LaVine’s $49 MM contract may spark trade talk. A federal case involving former Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups sees his alleged insider tips denied by his attorney. The league’s opening‑roster data shows 276 of 519 players have G‑League experience. Senators Merkley and Blackburn urge the NBA to reassess its partnership with Rwanda amid shifting geopolitical policy.
The Los Angeles Lakers considered adding former Bucks forward Pete Nance to their two‑way roster after Milwaukee released the 26‑year‑old, but the Bucks retained him with their own two‑way offer. Nance, the younger brother of ex‑Laker Larry Nance Jr., posted career highs last season—47 games, 5.4 points per game and a 41.7% three‑point rate, including a 23‑point performance versus Houston. While the Lakers start the 2026‑27 season with two‑way contracts for Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon and AK Okereke, Nance remains in Milwaukee, leaving the Lakers to rely on their G‑League affiliates for depth.
Atlanta's star forward was dominant on both ends of the floor in their most recent first quarter against Houston.
Luckily for the Atlanta Hawks, they likely won't have to see the opponent that has their number again this season.
Kevin Durant seizes the NBA’s active 20‑point streak lead, extending his run to nine straight games with 22 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in Houston’s 120‑110 win over Atlanta on Oct. 27. The 38‑year‑old’s streak overtakes Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, Kawhi Leonard and Devin Booker, whose impressive runs were snapped within five days. Durant has averaged 23.5 points this season as the Rockets start 4‑0 and aim to stay unbeaten on the road against Milwaukee. His shooting is efficient at 53.7% overall and 47.1% from three, cementing his veteran impact in his 20th NBA season.
Alperen Şengün fuels the Houston Rockets’ perfect start with 29 points, nine assists and a near‑triple‑double as Houston pulls away in the second half to beat the Atlanta Hawks 120‑110 at the Toyota Center. The Rockets surge in a 28‑19 third quarter, outscoring the Hawks 57‑44 over the final two periods and dominate the paint 64‑56 while outrebounding 52‑35. Jalen Johnson leads Atlanta with 21 points and nine rebounds, but the Hawks shoot just 28% from three. Houston improves to 4‑0, topping the Southwest Division, while Atlanta falls to 2‑2 in the Southeast.
Kevin Durant praises Houston Rockets' rising star Alperen Şengün after the team’s 4-0 start, highlighting his focus on both ends of the floor and the improved spacing around him. Durant mocks opponents who try to stop Şengün one‑on‑one, saying they’ve “read a lot of bad articles” about him this summer. He urges teammates to knock down shots, cut aggressively, and act as a safety valve to relieve pressure on the big man, emphasizing the Rockets’ fluid play and collective support.
The Rockets defeat the Hawks 120-110 in a quick turnaround home‑home series, capitalizing on superior two‑point shooting and rebounding despite committing twice as many turnovers (25 vs. 13). Houston shoots 53% overall and dominates the boards 52‑35, while Atlanta slumps at 28% from three. Alperen Sengun leads with 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Reed Sheppard adds 13 off the bench. Fred VanVleet returns, but injuries sideline Steven Adams and Marcus Smart. The win comes on the road, driven by a 10‑point free‑throw edge and aggressive interior play.
The Houston Rockets extend their unbeaten streak to 4-0 with a 120-110 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 27, 2026. Alperen Sengün leads the way, posting a near‑triple‑double with 29 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Kevin Durant contributes 22 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. adds 16 points, 12 boards and five assists. The win solidifies Houston’s strong start to the season, while Atlanta struggles to keep pace despite efforts from Jalen […]
Alperen Sengün fuels Houston’s hot start with a 29‑point, 9‑reb, 9‑ast, 6‑steal line that ties Nikola Jokić as the only NBA centers ever to post those stats in a single game. The Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks 120‑110 at home, snapping a second straight win and highlighting the impact of floor‑general Fred VanVleet, who’s been on the court for all of Sengün’s biggest scoring nights. Houston now rides a 4‑game winning streak and aims for a fifth against Milwaukee on Wednesday.
The Houston Rockets remain undefeated with a 4-0 record following their 120-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
The Rockets have received a concerning update about Steven Adams.
The Atlanta Hawks fell 120-110 to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 26, failing to score in the fourth quarter after trailing 91-85 entering the final period. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 15 points at halftime and the team kept its usual starters, but poor three‑point shooting and turnovers let Houston, boosted by the return of Fred VanVleet and a 29‑point performance from Alperen Sengun, seize the lead. Bench contributors like Aaron Wiggins and Kingston Flemings sparked runs, yet the Hawks couldn't sustain momentum. The loss leaves Atlanta heading home to face the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
The Pacers’ Ben Sheppard faces meniscus surgery Wednesday after a left‑knee tear, likely a meniscectomy that could sideline him just a few weeks, coach Rick Carlisle says. Meanwhile, center Ivica Zubac’s ankle sprain improves—he entered the arena boot‑free—but guard Andrew Nembhard sits out with a back issue. Elsewhere, the Rockets’ Steven Adams is out until at least early November with a right soleus strain, Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa misses his fourth game but is progressing, and the Hornets have no timelines for Coby White, Kon Knueppel or Grant Williams despite “positive steps.” Nuggets forward Spencer Jones hopes to debut within the next three games after bilateral hamstring management.
The Houston Rockets host the Atlanta Hawks at the Toyota Center on Oct. 26, 2026, with tip‑off at 7:30 PM CST (Space City Home Network). Expected lineups feature Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün for Houston, and CJ McCollum, Nikeil Alexander‑Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu for Atlanta. The Rockets are missing Steven Adams (calf) and Marcus Smart (forearm), while the Hawks list Mo Gueye as injured. The game will also be broadcast on KBME Sports Talk 790 and KLTN 102.9 (español).
The combined thread previews two marquee matchups on October 26, 2026. The Atlanta Hawks (2‑1) travel to Houston to face the 3‑0 Rockets on Tuesday night, with tip‑off at 8:30 PM EDT at Toyota Center; the game streams on Amazon Prime, NBA League Pass and YouTube TV, and airs locally on Peachtree TV and WANF. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Dream (2‑2) seek to even the WNBA Finals series against the Golden State Valkyries at San Francisco’s Chase Center, starting at 8:00 PM EDT and available on NBC, USA and Peacock. Starting lineups are listed, featuring CJ McCollum and Jordin Canada for the Hawks and Dream respectively.
The Hawks must play better defense against Houston's shooters to avenge their home-opening loss on Saturday.
The Atlanta Hawks lost to the Houston Rockets thanks to their inability to convert looks from deep - this must change to best the Rockets on Monday.
The San Antonio Spurs stumble out of the gate, dropping their first two games (104-116 to OKC, 110-114 to Houston) before snapping a win 106-122 at Dallas against a depleted Mavericks squad. Victor Wembanyama struggles with his shot (2‑for‑13 vs. Thunder, 5‑for‑28 overall) and rookie Jaylen Williams suffers a likely season‑ending leg injury. Coach Mitch Johnson’s new three‑guard lineup (De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper) shows mixed results, posting a modest +1.4 net rating but the team shoots only 41.5% overall and 28.1% from three. The Spurs sit 1‑2, ninth in the West, with a softer 12‑game stretch ahead that could lift them toward the top of the conference.