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LeBron James has earned his stripes. He has a longer rope than almost any NBA player. This is perhaps the best player in NBA history. He’s got this writer’s vote, and this writer can vaguely recall Michael Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls, so… Well, unless you’re in your late 70s, you don’t recall […]
Not even 12 hours after the final buzzer sounded from Houston’s game five victory, Shams Charania of ESPN broek the unfortunate news that Kevin Durant will be missing Game 6 of the Rockets-Lakers with a bone bruise on his ankle that he sustained in Game 2. The usual return timeline for a bone bruise is […]
We’re at the point in the series where the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are familiar with one another. There’s not much that either team can do to surprise the other. Truly, it comes down to which team can successfully impose their will and identity into the proceedings. We know that the Lakers want […]
The Houston Rockets, being the Rockets, like to do things The Hard Way. In their second championship season, 1994-1995, the Houston Rockets defeated more combined playoff opponent regular season wins en route to their title than any team in NBA history before, or since. Because of Hakeem Olajuwon’s injury that season, the Rockets didn’t finish […]
The Rockets are coming home to Houston. Not to start their off season, but to play Game 6 of their first round series with the Lakers. The series is now 3-2 in favor of the Lakers, and of course it’s easy to see a world where they Rockets would be ahead 3-2. They aren’t, of […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
April 26, 2026 Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas TV:NBC/Peacock Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: Prime Video Time: 8:30 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia, Lebron James, Deandre Ayton Austin Reaves is […]
Originally, I figured that the most 2026 Houston Rockets thing that could happen is what happened in Game 3: take a sizable lead into the final moments and blow the game, culminating in an overtime loss. The poor play in clutch situations has defined this team, and their 20+ blown fourth quarter leads this year […]
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun just wrapped up his second consecutive All-Star campaign, with averages of 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 51.9 percent from the field, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest. Sengun also racked up 34 double-doubles, which tied Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic for ninth-most in the NBA. Sengun and […]
The Houston Rockets fell into a practically insurmountable hole against the Los Angeles Lakers, falling 112-108 in overtime to a team still missing two of its three best players. The Rockets were also without Kevin Durant, but they had a chance to win the game, but fell apart down the stretch and into overtime, with […]
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers April 24, 2026 Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas TV:Prime Video Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: Prime Video Time: 7:00 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia, Lebron James, Deandre […]
Can someone explain to me how the Houston Rockets are 9.5-point favorites tonight in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers? Sure, I get that the game is in Houston. The Rockets are in desperation mode after dropping the first two games in LA. Role players almost always play better at home than on the […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 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 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 […]