Latest news and updates about the Rockets
I don’t know if the Rockets are going to come back and win this series or not. I’ll admit it looks bleak. However, I’ve seen too many things happen in sports to write them off completely. Here’s what I do know. If they go out, they better go out with a fight, and that starts […]
Amen Thompson’s third season was one to remember, as it saw Thompson take on a larger offensive role. ESPN revealed earlier this week that the Houston guard/forward collected a few second-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year, with the San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembenyama winning the award unanimously. Thompson has received mixed reviews for […]
(Please note I am currently in a deep basketball-induced depression and will be in mourning for the next 24 hours – Holly) On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Lakers kicked off Game 2 of the first round. Houston was looking to even things out. This series has been pretty weird so far. I mean, Luka […]
LOS ANGELES — Back in March, the Lakers were winning games thanks to an incredibly potent offense. One month later, they’re winning playoff games on the back of their defense. A necessary change following injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are suffocating the Rockets. In Game 2, that defense forced 15 turnovers as […]
The Lakers can write a hearty book of all the role players who have stepped up in big moments throughout the franchise’s history. When you win 17 NBA titles, that list is pretty long, in fact. While Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard are not quite at the levels of the elites in Lakers lore, what […]
With Kevin Durant back in the fold and the Rockets desperate to push as hard as possible to take a split back to Houston, the Lakers were able to match the Rockets’ physicality and fend them off down the stretch to hold on for a 101-94 victory and take control of the series with a […]
In a rock fight of a Game 2, the Lakers did just enough to go ahead 2-0 in the series with a 101-94 win over the Rockets. Offense was a precious commodity throughout the contest, a change of pace from the opening game of the series. As the game went on, the defenses took over, […]
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game 2 – April 21, 2026 Location: Crypto.com arena, Los Angeles, CA TV: NBC/Peacock Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: Peacock Time: 9:30 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, […]
Following the first matchup of any playoff series, both teams, win or lose, return to the drawing board and strategize what they can take forward in future contests. For the Lakers, missing their star shot creators in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves means the offense will be a journey every night. The regular season numbers […]
Hindsight is 20/20. Foresight is not. So, arguing with the benefit of hindsight will annoy people. Still, if it’s contrary to a view that you’d expressed with (deeply flawed) foresight, it’s responsible. All of which is to say, I thought Fred VanVleet over James Harden was the right call. Now, I think it was a […]
The Rockets have been battle-tested by injuries all year, and just hours before tipoff of their second consecutive playoff appearance, they were dealt another blow. All-Star forward Kevin Durant was ruled out for Game 1 with a right knee contusion that head coach Ime Udoka said he suffered during practice on Wednesday. “Hopefully it’s a […] The post Kevin Durant rejoins Rockets’ lineup in Game 2 at Lakers appeared first on ClutchFans .
The tale of the tape in the Houston Rockets’ opening round postseason matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers was one that hinged on health. Especially heading into the series. The Los Angeles Lakers were seemingly at their weakest, as the team was forced to play without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves seemingly for the entirety […]
The injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves mean the asks of the Lakers’ role players have increased, both in terms of responsibilities and expected production. For a player like Deandre Ayton, who has been under a microscope for most of the season, it puts even more pressure on him, which can lead to a […]
The first round series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets continues on Tuesday. L.A. looks to take further control of the matchup and protect homecourt by going for 2-0. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Apr. 21 Where: Crypto.com Arena Watch: NBC, Peacock Just when it […]
The Houston Rockets will look to bounce back tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 1, Houston was definitely off their game without Kevin Durant. The injury clearly happened late in the week and threw the Rockets off their game. It added immediate pressure to a series in which Houston is favored thanks to […]
In last season’s Game 1 against the Wolves, the Lakers admitted they weren’t prepared for what was awaiting them. The result was them falling behind the eight ball from the jump and being forced to unsuccessfully play catch-up. Given that the team awaiting them in this year’s first round was a very physical Rockets team, […]
There are few more precious NBA jewels than a quality young core. Everyone wants a young core. Winning an NBA championship is the best possible outcome. If you’re not in the running, the next-most exciting position is to have a young core that could be able to climb that mountain in time. Evaluating the Rockets’ […]
The Houston Rockets were without star forward and leading scorer Kevin Durant in Game 1 versus the L.A. Lakers due to a knee bruise he suffered in practice last week. According to Ime Udoka, it was a mobility issue for KD and not a pain one. Whether that’s just the coach covering for his player […]
With two of the Lakers’ big three out, LeBron James finds himself once again asked to be anything and everything for the purple and gold. That would normally be a ton of pressure to put on one player in the postseason, but LeBron is not your typical athlete. In Game 1 against the Rockets, he […]
Coming off the strongest season of his career, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. has an opportunity to earn some hardware. The third-year Heat wing was named a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year voting, the league announced Sunday evening. The other two nominees are Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. and San Antonio’s Keldon […] The post Jaime Jaquez Jr. named finalist for Sixth Man of the Year award appeared first on Hot Hot Hoops - Miami HEAT NBA Blog .
There was little faith amongst NBA experts that the Lakers could do much of anything against the Rockets. With no Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves to start the postseason, LA had a ton of offensive production unavailable. However, their absence creates opportunities for others, and Luke Kennard got the start in Game 1 and brought […]
LOS ANGELES – Saturday’s Game 1 between the Lakers and Rockets saw the Crypto.com Arena crowd will the purple and gold to victory behind the unlikeliest of leading men. Midway through the fourth with LA leading by 12, the Lakers ran an action to get their lead guard his fifth three of the night and […]
Across the regular season, the crowd at Lakers games does not rank among the best in the league. The lion’s share of the blame falls on ownership for pricing out the common, diehard fans and replacing them with fans who too often view the game as a status symbol rather than a chance to root […]
The score of this one might suggest that the Rockets weren’t in fact spanked, by the Lakers. They were. This was a wire to wire win for LA, and at no point did it seem like the Rockets were going to push past LA, take a lead, and keep it. The Lakers held the Rockets […]
The deck was stacked against the Lakers heading into the playoffs, but what awaited them was a tower of cards ready to topple over in the Rockets. Kevin Durant being a surprise scratch pregame tilted the tower to the brink of falling and the purple and gold made it a mission to finish the job […]