Latest news and updates about the Rockets
Allow me to contradict myself from something I said earlier in this series, but what an underwhelming crowd that was for a closeout game. In the opening two games, the Lakers faithful were awesome and had a huge hand in the purple and gold jumping out to an early lead in the series. But on […]
For the second year running, the Lakers will enter the playoffs with home court advantage. Unfortunately, the odds of this series playing out better than the last remain low. The Rockets await the Lakers this postseason, but the LA side they will meet is a much different one than the one they played during the […]
A largely lifeless offensive performance from the Lakers saw the Rockets take a second consecutive win in the series in Game 5 on Wednesday, 99-93. The purple and gold still lead the series 3-2. While Austin Reaves returned for the contest and eclipsed 20 points, few other Lakers showed up as offense was hard to […]
You can never doubt Austin Reaves’ heart. After an initial recovery timeline that would have him out 4-6 weeks, Reaves returned to the court last week and will return to the lineup just under a month after suffering his injury, joining the Lakers for Game 5 against the Rockets on Wednesday. As has been the […]
April 29, 2026 Location: CryptoDotComStaplesForum, Los Angeles California TV: ESPN Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: ESPN Time: 9:00 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Lebron James, Deandre Ayton As expected, Austin Reaves […]
As the Lakers focus on a critical Game 5 against the Rockets on the court, the team is also preparing for important moves off the court as well. One of the bigger changes expected under the new ownership of Mark Walter is an expansion of the front office. President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka confirmed […]
UPDATE: While it’s a game of semantics, it sounds more and more encouraging that Austin Reaves will make his return in Game 5. On Wednesday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Reaves expects to play. Here’s his full report on Reaves: “My understanding is Austin Reaves expects to play tonight in Game 5 against […]
When news of Kevin Durant’s initial knee injury first released, the Houston Rockets made the injury out to be a relatively minor thing. In fact, we didn’t even hear about the injury until Friday – one day before Game 1 of the Rockets’ series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rockets coach Ime Udoka stated that […]
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Well, the rumors are already flying. Some people are speculating that Kevin Durant may ask out […]
The Houston Rockets are now competing against history. In order to advance past the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets will need to win their next three games to become the first NBA team to ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and advance. That task gets taller as Austin Reaves seems destined to make his […]
The series between the Lakers and Rockets shifts back to LA for Game 5 on Wednesday. The Lakers will once again look to eliminate Houston from the playoffs. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets When: 7 p.m. PT, Apr. 29 Where: Crypto.com Arena Watch: ESPN The Lakers suffered their first postseason loss […]
With both teams suffering a slew of injuries to key players, this Lakers-Rockets series hasn’t exactly been beautiful basketball. All of the games have featured offensive struggles and the winning team having to grit and grind their way to victory. The Lakers have been the better team under these conditions and won the first three […]
It’s been another less-than-ideal postseason for the Houston Rockets. They headed into their first round series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a heavy amount of optimism, especially with the Lakers missing two of their best players in Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. The Rockets, however, responded by laying an egg in the first three […]
According to Michael Pina, the Utah Jazz would be one of many teams that would have a varying degree of interest in Kevin Durant if he becomes available. From Pina’s article: The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer. It turns […]
In the week leading up to their series against the Rockets, the Lakers repeatedly emphasized the importance of taking care of the ball. Despite being up 3-1 in the series, there have been very few moments where it’s felt like the Lakers have taken that message to heart. With 80 turnovers in the four contests, […]
At Sunday morning’s team shootaround ahead of Game 4, with the Rockets down 0-3 in the best-of-seven series and with an elimination game looming on their home floor, Alperen Sengun delivered a message to his team about belief and encouragement. The fifth-year Turkish big man — who often needed a translator during his first two […] The post Inspired by Alperen Sengun, Rockets stay alive versus Lakers appeared first on ClutchFans .
On a night where there were some ridiculous refereeing decisions, perhaps the most inexplicable in Game 4 between the Lakers and Rockets came at the end of the game. Late in garbage time, Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday had a minor scuffle that should have resulted in nothing notable. Instead, James Williams instantly ejected both […]
On the brink of advancing to the second round and pulling out a sweep for the first time since 2010, the Lakers fell to the Rockets in Game 4. With Kevin Durant out once again, it set the stage for a young and athletic Houston squad to play with a sense of urgency and desperation. […]
The Kevin Durant trade was controversial. Some felt that it was a no-brainer. You’re trading one of the least efficient volume scorers in the NBA, Dillon Brooks, and the 10th overall pick for one of the best scorers in NBA history. If it feels too good to be true… There were always reasons why Durant […]
In Monday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram helped lead Toronto past Cleveland, 93-89. Mason Plumlee and San Antonio took care of Portland, 114-93. Jayson Tatum and Boston smacked Philadelphia around, 128-96. Finally, Luke Kennard and Los Angeles fell to Houston, 115-96. Ingram had 23 for Toronto, while Barrett finished with 18 points […]
I was watching Game Three of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets series. My wife — who’s usually more interested in the National Anthem and the arena timeout entertainment — watched two possessions and said, “Do these guys understand this isn’t football?” In other words, someone who pays more attention to what Britt Waters […]
Ejections for Flagrant 2 fouls typically are pretty egregious and easy to understand. By definition, they involve excessive force, which rarely leaves doubt about an ejection. And yet, when Deandre Ayton was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Alperen Şengün during the third quarter of Game 4, which the Lakers were already losing handily […]
The Rockets stayed alive in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight with a resounding win in a game the Rockets absolutely had to have, and the Lakers absolutely did not. Sure, the Lakers would no doubt have chosen to finish the Rockets off in four, after the Rockets unlikely, and painful, late collapse […]
There was lots to dislike about the Lakers’ performance in Game 4. The offense looked stuck in mud. There was an alarming amount of turnovers and nearly all of them were live ball, which ruined any chance of a win. That will be discussed in the coming days on this site. But I’d like to […]
You can’t fake desperation. The Rockets fought hard in Game 3, but lost and were down 3-0 entering Game 4. With their season on the line, Houston decided they’d rather head back to LA instead of clearing out their lockers as they demolished the Lakers, 115-96. The Rockets got offensive contributions from their top players […]