The Mavericks list Caleb Martin as available (right thumb splint) for Friday’s game vs. the Houston Rockets, while Naji Marshall (illness) remains questionable. Santi Aldama (right knee surgery) and Tarik Biberović (right heel bursitis) are doubtful, and Sergio De Larrea (right knee sprain) and Dereck Lively II (foot surgery) are ruled out. Dallas sits 3‑2 after a 120‑96 win over OKC, with Cooper Flagg posting 26 points. Marshall has missed two games, averaging 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the first three contests. Houston, 5‑0, lists Alperen Şengün and Marcus Smart as questionable. Tip‑off is 7 p.m. CT at the American Airlines Center.
The Houston Rockets list Alperen Şengün (low‑back soreness) and Marcus Smart (left forearm strain) as questionable for Friday’s NBA Cup group‑stage clash with the Dallas Mavericks, while Reed Sheppard and Steven Adams are ruled out. Şengün, who posted 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a 120‑110 win over Atlanta, likely misses only a few games; he leads Houston with 24.5 PPG through four contests. Smart, averaging 7.5 points in two appearances, also sits out. The Mavericks enter 3‑2, and the game tips off at 7 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center.
The Rockets open the season 5-0 – their first such streak since 2014‑15 – and Kevin Durant isn’t shouldering the load. His usage rate sits at a career‑low 24.3%, while Alperen Sengun averages 24.5 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Fred VanVleet’s return is shaping the offense. Even with Sengun’s back strain, Houston beat Milwaukee by 32 points, and depth players like Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason are contributing. Though turnovers and defensive lapses remain concerns, the balanced attack gives Durant a lighter role heading into the spring playoffs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fall 120-96 to the Dallas Mavericks, exposing growing pains as they play without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace. Coach Mark Daigneault acknowledges the blowout, crediting Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks’ surge and noting the heavy minutes given to rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Josh Dix. Despite the loss, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander says roster absences are familiar and the team will rebound as the road trip continues with a game against the Rockets on Saturday.
The Milwaukee Bucks tumble 132-100 to a surging Houston Rockets, dropping to 1-4 in the 2026-27 season. Tyler Herro tops the Bucks with 23 points and four threes, but the team shoots just 39.6% overall and 27.5% from three. In the postgame press conference, Herro frames the loss as a "learning experience" for the young squad, emphasizing professionalism and mindset. Coach Taylor Jenkins admits inadequate preparation and praises rookie Brayden Burries, who adds 10 points and five rebounds after a second‑half surge. The defeat highlights the Bucks’ early‑season struggles and development focus.
The Milwaukee Brewers clinched the franchise’s first World Series title on Oct. 28, 2026, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 at Tropicana Field. Key contributors included catcher William Contreras, Cooper Pratt and Jacob Misiorowski. The victory prompted the city’s NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks, to post a congratulatory tweet, even as the Bucks struggle early in the season with a 1-4 record after a 132-100 loss to the Houston Rockets. Bucks guard Tyler Herro, a lifelong Brewers fan, highlighted the shared city pride amid roster upheavals involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and others.
The Houston Rockets hand the Milwaukee Bucks a 132-100 drubbing, exposing the Bucks’ rebuilding woes. Rookie Ryan Rollins struggles with a D‑grade (4 points, 2‑14 shooting) while Bucks forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. rebounds with a B‑grade (19 points, 7‑13 shooting). Houston’s Tyler Herro shines, posting 23 points on 9‑13 shooting for a B grade, and the Rockets’ defense swallows Milwaukee’s offense. Other Bucks receive mixed grades: Kuzma (D+), Turner (C‑), Ware (D), Jakucionis (C‑), Burries (C+), and AJ Green (C). The game underscores the Rockets’ title‑contending momentum and the Bucks’ need to regroup early in the season.
Wednesday night in the NBA delivered a little bit of everything: historic individual achievements, comeback victories, blowouts, late-game drama and my New York Knicks team finally finding its rhythm.
The Houston Rockets extend their perfect start to 5-0 with a 132-100 demolition of the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 28, 2026. Fred VanVleet leads the backcourt, posting a career‑best 24 points on 7‑for‑14 shooting, while Amen Thompson adds 23. Kevin Durant contributes 18 points on efficient 5‑for‑9 shooting, and Jabari Smith Jr. scores 14. The Rockets shoot 55% overall and 45% from three, limiting Milwaukee to 40% and dominating the rebounding and fast‑break categories. Despite missing Alperen Şengün, Steven Adams, and Marcus Smart, Houston’s depth shines as Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdan add double‑digit scoring. The win cements the Rockets as the league’s top team heading into a tougher schedule.
Fred VanVleet scored 24 points and Amen Thompson added 23 as the Houston Rockets remained undefeated with a 132-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum.
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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.