標籤: Rockets

For Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, there was one special thing he missed this season that led to his disappointing results: Fred VanVleet.

After trading for Kevin Durant over the summer, the Rockets were viewed as a serious threat to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. And why not? They were a young, talented, defensive-driven team that missed a late-game finisher in 2024-25.

But just before the season began, nine-year veteran VanVleet suffered an ACL injury during a September practice. Although it was a notable loss, most NBA experts believed that the Rockets still had enough talent to remain a force in the West under head coach Ime Udoka. However, despite looking strong early on, they slipped as the season progressed.

They finished the campaign as the fifth seed in the West, and were surprisingly eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs by a Los Angeles Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for most of the series.

Fred VanVleet says the Rockets’ biggest problem in 2025-26 was not having Fred VanVleet

After their disappointing defeat in the playoffs, there has been much speculation as to what went wrong. However, it seems VanVleet believes his absences were the biggest reason for his disappointment in 2025-26 and that next season will be much better.

“I know what I bring to the table and I know having me on the team will make us a better team,” he said in a new video on his YouTube page. “It’s been the same for me on every team I’ve ever been on. Before you get to the game, I’m going to make the team better by being available, being around and bringing my energy.

“My leadership and competitiveness, that’s what it’s all about. I try to make everything I touch better,” he said. “That’s my mentality. I’m not saying I do that, or I don’t, but that’s how I look at it when I go in.”

The one-time All-Star has a $25.5 million player option for next season. From his comments it appears he is likely to exercise or fully expect to sign a new long-term deal for less money annually.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Friday.

montreal canadiens news

• Alex Newhook attacked in Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabers and scored two goals to lead Montreal to an impressive 5–1 victory. The game ended up being one of Montreal’s best seasons of the year, with the Habs defeating Buffalo 2–0 and sweeping them 7–0 in the first round. [Canadiens Highlights: Dominant Win Evens Series Versus Sabres]

• While the Habs have leveled their series against the Sabres, the Laval Rocket are preparing for the final game of their second-round series against the Toronto Marlies. Laval had a great year, but it will quickly be forgotten if they fall to the Marlies. [Laval Rocket Season On The Line Against Marlies]

• Zach Benson’s frustrated chihuahua act is part of his playing style, and he’s given full marks for what he has to do to survive in a league full of Rottweilers. But it was fun to watch him try to chip Jacob Dobbs, a player who lives for this kind of grease. It’s worth noting that Dobbs was right after the failed Twitter attempt.

Benson lets Dobbs hear it 🍿 https://t.co/Zsft9R2aab pic.twitter.com/XAVexOcXWA

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 9 May 2026

• He won’t get credit for this, but it appears that Mike Matheson was trying to protect Benson from any serious injury when the Sabers forward reached the bottom of the dog pile.

Here’s the entire drama that involved Benson and Dobbs. #GoHabsGo

Finally Benson got up and started shouting again. pic.twitter.com/mlDOO64YAf

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 9 May 2026

• You could tell Newhook was *a little* excited to read the starting lineup before Game 2.

Now this is how you read lineups, Alex Newhook 🫡 pic.twitter.com/fEf6Xch3oi

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 9 May 2026

• Rockets head coach Pascal Vincent had nothing but great things to say about his captain Lucas Condotta.

nice words for the captain
kind words for the captain pic.twitter.com/HjEO4YkYdp

– xy – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 8 May 2026

Sportsknot Network

• After competing for the services of Sunny Mehta, it looks like the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs may be facing off against each other for another front office executive. After learning he was also a candidate for the job in Toronto, the Devils were not going to let Mehta slip through their fingers. [New Jersey Devils]

• The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the odds and won the NHL draft lottery. That stroke of luck has completely changed the narrative around the moribund franchise. Just a day earlier, all one could talk about was the team’s appointment of new general manager John Chayka, which was being widely criticized. Now, it’s all about that No. 1 pick in next month’s draft. [Toronto Maple Leafs]

• Colorado Avalanche superstar center Nathan MacKinnon has already locked in a spot on the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goalscorer in 2025-26. Now he will get a chance to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP for the second time in his career. [Colorado Avalanche]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Houston Rockets are suffering a first round exit in the NBA playoffs, extending their streak to six seasons without a semifinal appearance. While the Rockets’ young core didn’t take a step forward this season, it appears as if one of them is going to be rewarded with a big deal.

According to Sam Amick and William Guillory of The Athletic, the Rockets are expected to sign Amen Thompson to a contract extension this offseason that will be worth more than $250 million over five years.

Thompson, age 23, earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors last season. Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, many around the league have been high on the 6-foot-7 wing for his length and excellent defensive ability. In each of the last two seasons, he has been viewed as a player who could make the leap to superstardom and Houston has been unwilling to include him in any trade proposal to bring in an established superstar.

When Thompson signs a five-year contract extension worth more than $250 million, his average annual salary of more than $50 million will make him one of the six highest-paid shooting guards in the NBA. He will be paid similar to Donovan Mitchell and slightly ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards ($48.924 million average annual value).

Importantly, according to The Athletic, Rockets ownership is giving the front office clearance to spend more on the roster next season and it looks to keep the young core together. However, that could be a problem for Houston once the contract extension takes effect.

Why the Rockets might regret Amen Thompson contract extension?

Entering the offseason, the Rockets payroll for the 2026-27 season is already $184.925 million, according to Basketball Reference. Alperen Sengun is now making more than $35 million per year, Jabari Smith Jr.’s extension also kicks in next season and nearly doubles his salary to $23.643 million. In addition to adding more than $50 million for Thompson, the Rockets will commit $200 million to key players who have not gone to the Western Conference Semifinals together.

There were also some real signs of the limitations of Thompson’s game this season. While he averaged 19.2 points per game in the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, this came in 44 minutes per game and 14.3 shot attempts per contest.

In his third NBA season, Thompson did not consistently demonstrate the ability to be a primary scorer who could get his shot and take over games during the playoffs. However, a $250 million contract extension is paying him to perform at that level.

All the money owed on the current core, in addition to the team’s desires to bring in another star this summer, could complicate the ability to retain Terry Eason. Even if Eason returns, it will be one of the most expensive rosters in the NBA and has no postseason success to show for it.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Houston Rockets’ 2025–26 season ended with a major disappointment, with another first-round exit. The big move to trade for Kevin Durant last offseason has been a flop, as the team has fallen from the 2nd-seed in the West in 2024-25 to the 5th-seed this season.

We kept hearing that Durant wasn’t fitting in with his new Rockets teammates. And between their burner-account controversy, in which Durant was thought to be criticizing his fellow Rockets on Twitter/X, and his inability to connect with the team, it was a disaster.

So the question now is, will the Rockets double down on Durant and try to bring in another disgruntled superstar to pair with him?

If that’s the case, The Athletic’s senior NBA analyst Sam Veseni has suggested the outlines of a blockbuster deal the Rockets should consider. This would bring in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but would include removing Alpern Sengun:

houston rockets receive: :

get the milwaukee bucks: :

• alperen sengun
• reed shepard
• first round pick

“Given the fit of Sengun and Amen (Thompson), given his complete lack of shooting, I would call for Milwaukee to see if Sengun could be the centerpiece in a Giannis deal,” Veseni said.

He completed his hypothetical offer with the thought that the Bucks would have another young Rockets star.

“If I’m Milwaukee, I’m asking for amen, but if I’m Houston I don’t want to do that.”

Will the Rockets pursue another superstar this summer?

Veseni isn’t the only expert considering a big move for the Rockets this summer. Sam Amick at The Athletic also wondered what Houston’s path forward would look like after another playoff miss this season.

They’ll have to decide whether to double down on the roster with obvious concerns or perhaps go all-in — once again — while chasing another superstar this summer when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard or Donovan Mitchell might be up for grabs.

Whether it’s Giannis, Kawhi or Spida, expect to hear from the Rockets involving some intriguing trade rumors this offseason.

Ime Udoka’s comments following the Houston Rockets’ loss in Game 3 of the series against the Los Angeles Lakers fueled recent speculation that the team could trade young star Alpern Sengun this summer.

The Rockets’ 2025-26 campaign is on the verge of a stunning finish. They entered the year with serious NBA Finals expectations after acquiring future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. But Houston finished fifth in the conference. Still, they were fortunate in a first-round playoff matchup against a Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

However, after a bad loss on Friday night, where they blew a huge lead in the final minute of regulation, the Rockets advanced to Game 4 on Sunday by a 3–0 margin. After the loss, Houston head coach Ime Udoka was asked about their Game 3 collapse, and his opinion was surprising.

“Terrible mistakes. I don’t know whether you want to say young or scared of the moment,” Udoka said in his post-game press conference.

His comments were honest but also very interesting, as they seem to confirm why Alpern Sengun could be on the trade block this summer.

Did Ime Udoka confirm why Alperen Sengun will be traded?

On Friday, The Athletic’s William Guillory explained why the next few games were so important for Sengun’s future in Houston. After being a major part of the team’s rebirth in 2024–25, they had a poor performance late in the regular season and were even worse in the playoffs.

Guillory wrote, “The Rockets were expecting much better than this. More specifically, they were expecting a lot more from Sengun at this point in the season, especially after last year’s playoff run helped solidify the 23-year-old as one of the pillars of the franchise.”

“It’s no exaggeration to say that Sengun has been one of the biggest disappointments in this year’s playoffs – not just in Houston, but among all postseason teams.”

While the two-time All-Star played much better in Game 3, posting 33 points, 16 rebounds, and was +10 when he was on the floor, he couldn’t carry his team across the finish line in a very winnable game at home. It added to his reputation that he couldn’t do it under a bright spotlight for a franchise with championship aspirations.

The team was willing to give up Jalen Green despite notable development in order to trade Durant, with Guillory speculating that Sengun could easily be added to a winning proposal in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Donovan Mitchell in the offseason.

While Udoka didn’t specifically call out Seungun, he was one of the guys who was scared at the moment, and that doesn’t bode well for his long-term prospects in H-Town.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Houston Rockets And Kevin Durant has a tough task ahead of him Los Angeles Lakers City are coming in and trying to take a commanding 3-0 lead over them in their first round playoff series. So, all eyes will be on Durant and how he responds after one of the worst stretches of his NBA career.

LeBron James has dominated his way into this series, but the Lakers have got excellent, timely performances from Luke Kennard (27 points in Game 1) and Marcus Smart (25 points in Game 2).

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant only played in Game 2 and while he finished with a strong line in the contest, he had one of his worst outings leading to the Rockets’ second straight loss.

The two-time NBA champion finished Game 2 with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists while shooting 7 of 12 from the field. But he had a career high with nine turnovers in the game, scoring only three points with five turnovers in the entire second half.

This was because the Lakers repeatedly used the tactic of double-teaming him, testing his decision-making abilities while forcing his Houston teammates to try to beat them.

But before Game 3, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. was asked how the team can help Durant get involved offensively as he sees more and more double-teaming in the half-court. However, Smith’s reaction to his partner’s distress was quite surprising.

Jabari Smith Jr. gives surprising advice to Durant’s double-teaming trap

Responding to reporters who asked him what could be done to assist Kevin Durant in light of facing double teams, Smith Jr. said:

“They try to stop him and other guys have to be aggressive, so we have to be aggressive with that.”

“We’ve got to study it right, make the right decisions. And it’s on him to find ways to get himself involved and get to his spots without getting double-teamed.”

But then, Jabari Smith Jr. essentially seemed to tell Durant to come up with a solution himself, causing fans to lose their minds on social media.

“Just because he’s getting double-teamed, we still need him to be his KD, you know? There’s still ways around it, and we’ve got some solutions [the trapping of Durant]And we’ll get better the next two games,” Smith Jr. said.

Basketball fans react to Smith Jr.’s KD advice

His comments brought a ton of reactions from fans, many of whom were reminded of Durant’s recent chat about Jabari Smith.

“Kevin Durant you were the right guy,” one fan said along with crying emojis and a screenshot of Durant’s burner account DMs that surfaced during the NBA All-Star break.

Another fan said, “KD heard Jabari call him that and suddenly ankle injury pops up out of thin air lmao bro if you feel like that I’m leaving all y’all boys to die.”

Reactions varied widely, with some opining that KD could not be blamed when his teammates were absent in action.

NBA reporter Brett Siegel said, “Not sure why Kevin Durant has a problem when his teammates can’t catch the ball.”

One fan commented, “Open shots bro. Fuck everything else.”

Another fan wrote, “The chemistry on that team is worse than the Lakers in 2004.”

Another fan said, “These guys’ chemistry is in the gutter.”

However, it will be interesting to see how Kevin Durant Finds a solution to avoid these double teams. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night at 5 PM PST, and it will be the Rockets’ last stand before the series wraps up.

Since his first foray into online journalism in 2019, Peter Okereke has written widely on entertainment, politics and pop… More about Peter Okereke

If the Houston Rockets are surprisingly eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, a new report suggests young star Alpern Sengun will be added to the trade package in a blockbuster deal this summer.

Entering the 2025–26 season, the Rockets were viewed as a real threat to the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and with good reason. A year ago, they took a huge leap under head coach Ime Udoka as their young core showed real promise and they had an elite defense. Adding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant to the mix seemed like a championship recipe.

However, as the year progressed, the Rockets failed to live up to expectations and questions of poor chemistry have emerged over the past few months. To open the playoffs, it looked like they had a matchup against a Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Nevertheless, they enter Game 3 of the series losing 2–0.

If they get eliminated in the first round again this year, there will definitely be roster changes. It would be wise to move on from Durant before he turns 38 in September. It seems like the experiment failed. However, according to William Guillory of The Athletic, there is a real possibility that Alpern Sengun could be used in a blockbuster trade for a top star to pair with Durant next season.

Could the Houston Rockets target Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell this summer?

This is due to their up-and-down play in the second half of the season, and non-existent play in the first two games of their series against the Lakers. After acquiring Durant from rising star Jalen Green last year, Guillory suggests they could do the same again with the two-time All-Star this summer. His inclusion in any trade package would make him a favorite for any superstar on the trade block in the offseason.

Guillory wrote, “Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a name that has been linked to Houston as a potential superstar who could be acquired in a Sengun trade.” “Kawhi Leonard or Donovan Mitchell could also be possibilities. If Houston makes Sengun available with some future draft picks, it would put them among the favorites to acquire any undrafted superstars who may become available.”

Trading Antetokounmpo will be a top story this summer after the Milwaukee Bucks heard offers before the deadline. Reports surfaced last week that if Mitchell does not sign an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers after the season, he could also be placed on the trade block. Leonard should also be available as the Clippers look to rebuild quickly over the next two years.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Wednesday.

montreal canadiens news

There is no doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the better team at 5v5 this season. However, when the numbers between Montreal and the Lightning are evaluated against each other in their four games, the discrepancy is less noticeable, with the Canadiens managing to control more shots than the Bolts. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Head-To-Head]

The Laval Rocket have lost some key players to the Habs this year, making reinforcements necessary. Luckily, Vinzenz Rohrer is on his way to joining the Rockets, and will participate in his first practice with the team on Friday. The Rockets are in first place in the North Division with two games left to play in the regular season.

The Canadiens have loaned forward Vincenzo Rohrer to the Laval Rocket.

The Canadiens have re-assigned forward Vincenzo Rohrer to the Laval Rocket. pic.twitter.com/tq76w7s933

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 15 April 2026

Two goaltending prospects have entered the NCAA transfer portal, meaning they are looking for a new school for the 2026-27 season. Alexis Cournoyer is moving on from Cornell, while Quentin Miller will no longer play for the University of Denver. Considering that John Hicks came out of nowhere and had a surprisingly great season in Denver (.957 save percentage), Miller’s decision makes a lot of sense. As for Cournoyer, he’s probably hoping to land with a team that has championship aspirations.

Alexis Cournoyer (Cornell) and Quentin Miller (Denver) have entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Both #GoHabsGo The netminders have looked pretty good so far in college. .916 and .915 SV% respectively.

This transfer window has been very strange.

– Hadi Kalakeche (@HadiK_Scouting) 15 April 2026

I have to say that it’s quite interesting that the Canadiens are heading into the playoffs without having many questions answered about their second line. I’ve been as critical of Oliver Kapanen as anyone could be, but in the long run, he is the player who has managed to take advantage of Ivan Demidov’s excellent play more often than anyone else. A bird in hand…

Who should play with Ivan Demidov on the second line against the Tampa Bay Lightning?#GoHabsGo #DasikPodcast @tonymarinaro @StuCowan1 pic.twitter.com/GxOwOplAss

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) 15 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

The search for the next general manager of the New Jersey Devils is in full swing. Devils ownership and their search committee have begun interviewing candidates as soon as this week for the vacant GM job left by Tom Fitzgerald following what was described as a “mutual breakup.” [New Jersey Devils]

The game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders had some upsets, but most of them occurred before the puck dropped at UBS Arena. [Carolina Hurricanes]

The Detroit Red Wings have some big decisions to make ahead of the 2026 NHL offseason. Despite scoring the most points (92) in a season since 2016, the Red Wings would not participate in the playoffs. [Detroit Red Wings]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Popular sports analyst Bill Simmons doesn’t like the Houston Rockets’ excitement as the NBA playoffs approach, and even he believes head coach Ime Udoka is not a fan of this roster.

Entering the season, the Rockets were viewed by many as a serious threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West. They had an elite defense, a good young core, and added future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant to give them the scorer they were lacking.

For most of the season, they have been a top four team in the conference. However, they seem to be slowly faltering. Lost 6 of their last 10, including potential playoff rivals, the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

His recent play has dedicated NBA fan and expert Bill Simmons very concerned, and he expanded on his thoughts during a new edition of his The Ringer podcast.

Are the Rockets on a tear after Kevin Durant burner phone rumors?

“The body language doctor is terrified of,” Simmons began. The popular podcaster claimed that the Rockets have bad vibes, and that he thinks they are “the most disconnected of the playoff teams.” The biggest evidence of why he feels that way was a key moment during this week’s 110-108 overtime loss to the Timberwolves.

After a bad turnover at the end of regulation, All-Star Alpern Sengun made an incredible play by running back and getting a big block. He moved so far that he lost his balance, fell on his face and got a cut on his lip. Yet instead of his teammates getting excited about the game, Reed Shepard gave him a “Good job, dude, like it’s the end of the first quarter.”

Simmons also noted how Durant and his other Rockets teammates did not show much support after the game. He said, “That team is not on the same page. I don’t like the vibes. Something is really wrong.”

Then he took the matter a little further. There are suggestions that Ime Udoka has done one of the worst coaching jobs in the NBA this season, and questions over his lack of late-game adjustments.

Simmons said, “The feelings are terrible. I don’t think he really likes the team that much. And if you want to go into the whole conspiracy theory, they haven’t been the same since the KD Burner stuff during the All-Star break.”

Earlier this season a conspiracy surfaced on an X account owned by Durant that featured group chat conversations criticizing Rockets teammates as well as other players and coaches around the league.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Chicago Bulls have fallen short in the postseason picture, and they are set to miss the play-in tournament for the first time in the last four seasons. It’s clear that Chicago is paying more attention to its youth, and in return, Matas Bouzelis is getting the opportunity of a lifetime. On Monday night, Bouzelis played a key role in the Bulls’ 132–124 upset win over the Rockets, scoring 23 points on an efficient 8-16 shooting night.

Considering how much the Bulls have struggled since the trade deadline, they need every ray of hope that there is indeed some light at the end of the tunnel as far as their rebuild is concerned. And games like this one from Buzzellis that’s all it givesEspecially when he made some clutch plays in their most recent win.

Bouzelis told CHSN’s Casey Johnson, “I’m trying to be aggressive all the time. I don’t care who’s in front of me. I’ll take the challenge.”

It must have been very inspiring for Bouzelis to do well for himself, given that he himself admitted that Rockets star Kevin Durant, who had 40 points on the night, was “eating” him.

“He was kicking my butt, man. It was tough. Obviously, he’s an amazing player. I’m really happy we came out with the win. He was cooking me,” Bouzelis admitted.

“I’m trying to be aggressive all the time. I don’t care who’s in front of me.”

with Matas Buzzelis @KCJHope After a 23-point performance in the win over Houston. pic.twitter.com/7TnwhU39k4

– Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) 24 March 2026

The Bulls still have a long way to go in their rebuild, but to say they don’t have some promising pieces would be disingenuous. Bouzelis has the size to be a prototypically dominant two-way wing, and Josh Giddy is a stat-sheet stuffer extraordinaire.

Bouzelis is also only 21 years old, so the sky is the limit for a second year ahead. Watching Durant up close and personal has certainly taught the young Bulls player some tricks that he can incorporate into his game moving forward.

As the Miami Heat prepare to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, the team is trying to bounce back from a heartbreaking 123-122 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. As the Heat go through a tough four-game stretch, head coach Erik Spoelstra explains what the team is going through.

Miami’s loss to Houston saw the team blow a 12-point lead, but then surrendered what turned out to be a close game throughout the season, led by an impeccable night from Bam Adebayo, who recorded 32 points and 21 rebounds. Still, it came down to the final possession, in which Amen Thompson’s put-back basket won the game, adding to the “pain” the Heat were going through, as Spoelstra said.

“When you say you have to develop some patience, you have to go through it,” said Spoelstra, formerly of Axe, via Heat Central on Twitter. “When you feel like every possession matters, and part of the grit is that you have to go through some pain. So we’re going to go through some pain right now, and it’s going to steal us. It’s going to make us better, and we’ll focus on getting ready for a tough opponent on Monday.”

Coach Spo with more about finding his ‘grit’

“When you say you have to develop some patience you have to go through it. There are consequences. When you feel these types of emotions and realize that every asset matters. Part of the patience is that you have to go through some pain.… https://t.co/6EZBv3SFWq pic.twitter.com/pdsRdiGf4y

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 22 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on recovering from recent tough loss

As the Heat prepare for the playoffs, with the team struggling to get out of the play-in tournament, the goal now is to not let these tough losses get the roster down. However, a final game like the one against the Rockets would be a pity, as Adebayo made a great save on Kevin Durant, with Thompson running after the team for the put-back.

“Just stick with it,” Spoelstra said. “We’re talking about having collective composure, and we thought we showed that composure during the game… You just think about the karma of the game, we’ll find a way to get out of here with a win. Missed a block-out at the end. And Thompson had a great game.”

Who was at fault in the last match for Heat Nation to win??? pic.twitter.com/hawFEmz0wl

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 22 March 2026

At any rate, Miami will be trying to snap its losing streak against a strong opponent on Monday in the Spurs.

The Los Angeles Lakers extended their lead with a 124–116 win over the Houston Rockets, making their streak seven and improving to 9–1 in their last 10 games. Once again, LeBron James took charge on the night. At 41, he put in a performance that felt both skilled and inevitable. He finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, along with five rebounds and two assists. The matchup against the Rockets was high on energy, but LeBron controlled the Lakers’ rhythm from start to finish.

After the game, JJ Redick gave a response that immediately caught attention. “The one shot he missed, he was trying to make a foul shot. I mean, that’s the biggest thing,” Redick said. that was fast. it was funny. And it perfectly demonstrated how dominant LeBron was. A miss occurred only because everything else went in.

JJ: “One shot (LeBron) missed, he was trying to draw a foul. That’s the biggest thing” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wu2L2pxfoL

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

LeBron also missed both of his three-point attempts. Every touch seemed deliberate. Every move felt calculated. Under the lights, it didn’t look like this was a player in the prime of his career. It seemed like the perfect order.

Lakers finding form at the right time

The Lakers just aren’t winning. Instead, they are building something. The difference is clearly visible. Meanwhile, decision making feels rushed. And through it all, LeBron James has been the engine driving everything forward.

However, the rockets did not fold easily. They kept the pressure on the scoreboard and forced the Lakers to respond. Still, Los Angeles never lost control. Each of Houston’s runs received a steady answer. As a result, that balance continues to define this expansion.

More importantly, this moment feels bigger than a game. Almost a perfect shooting night. A viral quote from JJ Redick. Plus, as the season gets tougher, the team’s confidence is growing. The Lakers are on an upward trend, and the signs are becoming harder to ignore now.

So now, the question arises again: If LeBron James is playing at this level, how dangerous can this Lakers run be?

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their momentum and defeated the Houston Rockets 124-116, as Luka Doncic once again took control of the night. In the process, he delivered a near triple-double with 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. This wasn’t just another strong night. Instead, it felt as if something rare was unfolding in real time.

Doncic controlled the pace from the beginning. He attacked mismatches, created space and punished every defensive lapse that Houston showed. At times the Rockets remained within reach and continued to apply pressure. He increased the speed and tested Los Angeles. However, the Lakers responded every time. Calm. accurate. Under control. As a result, Doncic made sure the momentum never slipped.

According to OptaSTATS, the race has now reached historic territory. Notably, Doncic is the first player in NBA history to record at least 250 points, 50 rebounds, 50 assists and 25 threes in a seven-game span while going undefeated. The numbers are clear. However, sustainability stands out even more. Night after night, the production continues. In turn, the impact never diminishes.

Lakers looking for identity behind Luka Doncic

This latest Lakers-Rockets clash showed the full picture. From the start, Doncic shot 12 of 25 from the field and 7 of 17 from deep. As a result, he remained efficient when needed and explosive when needed. Furthermore, he read and adjusted every coverage without hesitation. Houston tried several looks. However, none lasted long.

More importantly, the Lakers are evolving. For one, the vacancy is more intense. Besides, the ball moves faster. As a result, confidence appears on every asset. It is no longer just about speed. Instead, this structure is taking shape.

And now, the big question arises. If Luka Doncic is already making history on this field, what happens when the stakes rise and the lights get even brighter?

The Los Angeles Lakers got a big win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at the Toyota Center. LeBron James played exceptionally well and scored 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting. According to the X reporter, he spoke after the game and showed how he felt, oh no, he didn’t.

“LeBron: Look at me right now… I feel like I’m bullshitting, but in the game I felt great, before the game, I wasn’t feeling that good. I was yawning and tired. I was literally just talking to myself, “Oh no, not on X,” he wrote.

James continued to fire all night, missing only one shot. It was his best shooting night of the season, as he found ways to put the ball in the hoop at almost every opportunity. There were times when he felt every bit his age, including a massive collapse in the fourth quarter. But James came back and finished the game strongly.

When James dived in for a basketball in Denver earlier this week, it took him a little longer to get up. When he fell in Houston, he held his ailing wrist and sat on the hardwood for a few minutes. Despite being 41 years old, James is playing at a high level, which is perfect timing as we get closer to the playoffs.

There are still questions about James’ future; He continues to perform as the second-best player on the Lakers behind Luka Doncic. As the Lakers sit in third place in the Western Conference, the team will continue to try to secure the No. 3 seed and make a deep run as James strives to stay healthy and be there for the team when needed.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 124–116 for their seventh consecutive win. It was also the Lakers’ second win against the Rockets in three days, giving them a tiebreaker in the battle for the No. 3 seed. According to LA sports reporter Law Murray, after the win over the Rockets, the Lakers have now won the tiebreaker against all of their closest Western Conference opponents.

“The Lakers should be the 3rd seed in the West and a trip to the semifinals. This season they have all the relevant tiebreakers – 2-1 vs. Rockets (can only play three quarters) – 2-1 vs. Nuggets (lost in Memphis) – 3-0 vs. Timberwolves (ant knee),” Law posted on X.

The Lakers swept a two-game set in Houston this week. Remarkably, this was a huge turnaround after their poor performance against the Rockets on Christmas Day. The win gave Los Angeles a 1.5-game lead over the Timberwolves with a 44–25 record. They also hold a 2.5 game lead over the Rockets.

As the final stretch of the regular season approaches, the Lakers are hitting their stride. Currently, the No. 3 seed appears to be the goal as they trail the San Antonio Spurs by seven games with 13 games remaining. Because of this, if the Lakers continue to win they will likely start the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.

These two wins were a major achievement in the playoff preview between the Lakers and the Rockets. If the teams meet again, it could turn out to be one of the best series of the playoffs.

LeBron James played one of his best games this season, scoring 30 points on 13-14 shooting from the field in a 124-116 win for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Houston Rockets. James has really shifted to an off-ball role, and he is thriving as a result. In fact, a lot of the little things James is doing that contribute to winning are just putting even more wear and tear on a body that’s already gotten a ton of mileage.

Notably, James suffered an elbow injury late in the Lakers’ victory when he faced a hard foul from Jabari Smith Jr. He was supposed to go straight to the locker room after the final buzzer, but he noticed that Lisa Salters was the sideline reporter for ESPN the night before and she was staying briefly to give an interview. out of love And he has admiration for one of the sport’s most experienced journalists.

“As soon as I get to the locker room, Imma throw some ice on it. That’s why I ran away. But, you know, I love you, you’re amazing, so I had to come back and do this interview for you. We got back-to-backs. I’m 41. I need to prepare but I take care of myself and hopefully I’ll be ready for tomorrow night,” James told Salters.

“I love you, you’re amazing, so I had to come back and do this interview for you.”

LeBron was going back to the locker room, but came back to do an interview with Lisa Salters 🙌

(via @ESPN)
pic.twitter.com/hTx8VwSisV

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

Lakers’ LeBron James shows love for fellow sports legend

Salters has been working on the sidelines for nearly 20 years, joining NBA on ABC coverage in 2006 as the lead sideline reporter. She has been a part of ESPN since 2000. James has watched Salters on the sidelines throughout his career, and it seems as if the Lakers star has formed a relationship with one of the game’s most respected reporters.

In fact, the Lakers have to play a game tomorrow night as they face the Miami Heat.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are finding their rhythm as a collective; On Wednesday night, they won against the Houston Rockets 124–116 for their seventh consecutive win and second in three nights. Doncic was dominant on Wednesday, recording his 12th 40-point game of the season after recording 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Never mind that the Rockets have some elite perimeter defenders, when Doncic finds his rhythm, the defense’s only prayer is that he misses.

But the Lakers know that achieving their progress in the regular season is not the ultimate goal. While this may help them prepare for what lies ahead, especially a potentially deep playoff run, they have their eyes on the prize. Doncic said as much in his postgame interview with Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell.

Doncic told Trudel, “It’s an amazing feeling. I love winning. Everything is better when you’re winning. We have great chemistry. We’re a great team. This is the beginning of something beautiful.”

“We have great chemistry…this is just the beginning of something beautiful.”

with luka doncic @lakersreporter In the team after tonight’s win. pic.twitter.com/MHBS9q2d6V

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 19 March 2026

The Lakers are finding out, and considering how elite Doncic and James can be when the stakes are at their highest, there isn’t a single team in the West that would like to see them in a seven-game series.

The entire Lakers roster has adopted JJ Redick’s system

The Lakers have suffered a lot this season, but it’s telling that DeAndre Ayton, of all people, would go to the media and say he took a long, hard look at the mirror and realized the defensive effort and energy the team needed from him.

The entire team has bought into what Redick is selling and as a result, the Lakers are winning. But they have another tough test ahead of them, as they look to extend their win streak to eight tomorrow night when they travel to Miami and visit the Heat at 8:00 pm ET.

JJ Redick isn’t afraid to take a hit on the bear, even if that bear is his own superstar. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, Redick couldn’t resist making a joke at LeBron James’ expense despite a near-perfect performance from “The King.”

James was absolutely surgical at Toyota Center, scoring 30 points on a staggering 13-of-14 shooting from the floor. He missed exactly once all night. When reporters asked Redick about the lone flaw in that historic shooting performance, the first-year head coach didn’t mince words.

“The one shot he missed, he was trying to get a foul shot,” Redick said with a laugh in the media room.

It was a classic Reddick moment, blunt, high-witted and with just the right amount of sarcasm. While the coach was clearly joking, his comments highlight the loose, confident atmosphere around this Lakers team. Los Angeles has now won seven straight games and 10 of their last 11, improving their record to 44-25 and solidifying their place near the top of the Western Conference.

James wasn’t the only person cooking in Houston. Luka Doncic continued his MVP-caliber campaign with a 40-point masterpiece that included 10 assists and nine rebounds to carry the load at the end of the fourth quarter. The Lakers shot 61% as a team, making life miserable for the Rockets defense, which welcomed Alpern Sengun. Sengun finished with 27 points and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough to stop the purple and gold juggernaut.

The win completes a two-game sweep of the Rockets and serves as another reminder that the James-Doncic partnership is officially on the way. With Redick steering the ship and the stars playing it efficiently, the Lakers are looking like the most dangerous team in the West in April.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The Lakers swept the Rockets in their back-to-back contests, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for their best performances of the season.

Doncic had a near triple-double of 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, while James added 30 points, missing only one of his 14 attempts. He also had five rebounds and two assists.

Doncic had seven three-pointers, including a dagger in the final minute, giving them a nine-point lead. After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked what Doncic said after hitting the shot. In response, Redick told a joke.

“I’m very excited to go to Miami,” Redick said, per Benjamin Royer of the OC Register.

There is no time to rest for the Purple and Gold as they face the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Redick has talked about his busy schedule this season and reiterated that he has to deal with it and do his job as a professional.

The 27-year-old Doncic has been poor in his recent win streak, averaging 38.7 points. He has reached 40 points for the third time in seven matches. He is on his way to winning his second scoring title.

At the risk of spoiling it, it looks like the Lakers are peaking at the right time. With great play from Doncic and James, Austin Reeves regaining his form, Deandre Ayton learning to buy in and Marcus Smart playing his role perfectly, they will pose a real threat in the playoffs.

This is not a joke.

The Lakers and Rockets met for the first time since DeAndre Ayton and Clint Capela took aim at each other in the media and social media. The Lakers won 100–92, and neither player had a major impact on the game or the season. Still, Ayton got the last laugh with the win, and because he outshined Capela when he was on the floor, this rivalry doesn’t look to be slowing down either.

The reason Ayton had the last laugh on Capela was that he finished with a +/- of 11, other than the fact that the Lakers won. He was quoted as saying, “I’m no Clint Capela!” The context was that Ayton did not want to catch lobs on offense and instead wanted to do more of that.

The quote went viral when Ayton criticized Capela and his skills and Capela clapped back. He said, “You got 2 of the best floor generals in the game, my dog ​​Lockin.” Then he added two crying and laughing emojis.

It’s worth noting that Ayton may have a point about his offensive skill set being wasted in the Clint Capela role, but Capela, in his prime, was far superior to Ayton at rebounding and defense. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers spent seven years figuring out how to maximize that skill set in a way that really helped their championship chances.

Ayton’s career has been defined by talent that was perhaps not wasted, but certainly unevenly applied. This isn’t exactly what you want from a player who the Suns selected first overall ahead of players like Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson.

The Suns got the most out of Ayton and he helped them reach the NBA Finals. This also led to him earning a max contract, but questions about his effort level have persisted and not gone away throughout his tenure with three different teams. Having a defined role like Capela could do him some good in the long term.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their sixth consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 100-92 at Toyota Center on Monday. The Lakers finished third in the Western Conference, surpassing the Rockets.

Luka Doncic once again led the attack with a game-high 36 points on 14 of 27 shooting, while adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Purple and Gold improved to 43-25.

During a postgame interview with NBC, Doncic praised his response and his defensive effort in the final period, holding the Rockets under 100 points and handing them only their ninth loss at home.

“It was great. I thought we shared the ball well, especially in the last quarter,” said the NBA’s leading scorer.

“To hold them (the Rockets) to 92 points is awesome. We did a great job defensively.”

Houston is averaging 114.1 points per game.

Doncic, 27, also acknowledged the physicality of the game, which he said has been a clear theme amid his winning streak.

“We could have done a lot better, but what matters is that we won, we have to keep it going,” Doncic said.

“The last few games have been very physical, very playoff-like.”

Luka said tonight felt like a playoff game pic.twitter.com/fpCT49LtX6

– Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) 17 March 2026

The Lakers have been on a tough schedule, surviving the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. They will face the Rockets again on Wednesday.

LeBron James had 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals against Houston, while also had a spectacular dunk on Jabari Smith Jr.

Austin Reeves had 15 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.

The Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night and Alpern Sengun is once again at the center of the injury report. The Rockets have listed Sengun as questionable due to lower back soreness, putting Houston’s All-Star center in focus as the team looks to win back-to-back games.

The Rockets enter the matchup at 41-25, which is good for No. 4 in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers sit at 42-25, ranked No. 3 in the West, and are aiming to extend a five-game winning streak. With both teams firmly in the playoff race, Seungun’s availability could play a major role in shaping the outcome of the matchup.

Sengun has been a cornerstone of Houston’s offense this season. Through 58 games, he is averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. He also contributed 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, highlighting his impact on both ends of the floor. His ability to facilitate attacks from the post while scoring efficiently has made him one of the most versatile center backs in the league.

When the Sengun is available, the Rockets operate aggressively with more rhythm. His game internally allows Houston to run through multiple options on offense while keeping the defense guessing.

alperen sengun injury status vs lakers

Several other names are included on the Rockets’ injury report. Steven Adams is out after surgery on his left ankle. Fred VanVleet is also out after a right knee ACL repair. Ja’Sean Tate is out with a right knee sprain, while JD Davison is out on two-way assignment.

For the Lakers, the injury report lists Maxi Kleber out with a back strain.

Still, Seungun’s status remains the biggest story in this matchup. Houston hopes to maintain its momentum near the top of the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Lakers will look to extend their winning streak and strengthen their playoff position.

So when the question comes whether Alperen Sengun is playing against the Lakers tonight, the answer is uncertain. His final status will depend on pregame evaluation as Houston looks for another win.

The New Orleans Pelicans face the Houston Rockets on Friday. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson is Despite this, they are securing their future with the franchise. early trade rumors And injuries.

Before tip-off, Williamson A rapid increase was seen In his contract, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. As a result of playing in 51 games, Williamson’s guaranteed salary will increase from $16.9 million to $25.3 million.

Additionally, his salary before the start of the season was $42.2 million for next season, with no money for security.

This year, Williamson is averaging 21.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are 22-45 and have won seven of their last ten games.

Williamson has been with the Pelicans since being selected as the No. 1 pick out of Duke in 2019. Since then, he became an NBA All-Star twice in 2021 and 2023. In 2020, he made the All-Rookie team.

However, Williamson’s NBA career has largely been covered in bruises, criticism of their weightAs well as off-court issues such as 2025 sexual harassment allegation.

At the beginning of the season, it was reported that Williamson would be one of the players to be traded. However, the Pelicans are clearly doing everything possible to ensure that Williamson remains in the Big Easy for the long term.

On Monday, the Pelicans return home for four games. First up, they will take on the Dallas Mavericks. Then, they will play back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and Thursday. On Saturday, March 21, the Pelicans will conclude the week by playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Things haven’t been good in South Texas this week after the Houston Rockets were demolished by the Denver Nuggets. Now, the news may get even worse, as Alpern Sengun has filed an injury report against the New Orleans Pelicans, putting his status in doubt. The Pelicans are visiting the Rockets, and there is a possibility that Sengun will not play. Currently, he is dealing with lower back pain, which likely occurred during the loss to the Nuggets. Here’s everything we know about Alperen Sengun’s injury and his playing status against the Pelicans.

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alperen sengun injury status vs pelicans

Given that Alperen Sengun is questionable, there’s a legitimate possibility that he won’t suit up for this showdown with the Pelicans. This marks the second time he has been on the injury report this season, as Seungun suffered a foot injury earlier this season.

If Sengun had missed this game, he would have had an additional two days to recover before a big two-game home series against the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Rockets currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, these two games will be crucial for playoff positioning. Seungun is averaging 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Rockets.

Seungun has been mostly unavailable for the Rockets this season, missing seven games. If he misses this game, there’s a good chance he could compete for the Purple and Gold on Monday. Whether or not Seungun plays tonight is still up in the air, and that could be a true game-time decision.

After dropping back-to-back assignments, the Denver Nuggets will try to return to the win column when they host the Houston Rockets at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

The Nuggets lost 129-126 to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Monday and lost to the New York Knicks 142-103 at home on Friday.

Jamal Murray was forced to leave his game against the Knicks due to an ankle injury. He was considered questionable before facing the Thunder, but eventually suited up, although he was still not 100%.

According to the Nuggets’ injury report, Murray is dead. Listed as probable For his affair versus the Rockets, Cam Johnson, who is dealing with a back injury.

Meanwhile, Peyton Watson is still out with a hamstring injury, although he could return any time this week.

Injury report ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Rockets:

potential:
Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle)
Cameron Johnson (back spasms)

Outside:
Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain)#milehighbasketball pic.twitter.com/ZI7Hj8tVYR

– Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) 10 March 2026

The 29-year-old Murray is at the peak of his career, averaging career-highs across the board: 25.4 points, 48.2% field goals, 42.7% three-pointers, 4.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He earned his first nod to the All-Star Game and is on his way to receiving his first selection to the All-NBA Team.

He has been healthy this season and has only played in four games so far.

The Nuggets will look to continue their dominance over the Rockets, who they have defeated in their last five meetings, including two this season.

Denver has struggled to stay healthy, but the team has regained its starting lineup over the past few months with the returns of Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun.

If Murray sits against Houston, Julian Strother, Tyus Jones and Jalen Pickett are expected to take advantage of their minutes and fill voids by committee.

The Toronto Raptors released their latest injury report on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their road matchup against the Houston Rockets, providing an update on veteran center Jakob Poeltl.

Toronto (36-27) begins a brief road trip with tipoff scheduled for 8:00 pm ET on Tuesday night in Houston. According to the team’s injury report, Poeltl is listed as questionable due to an illness, making his status uncertain for the matchup against the Rockets (39-24).

Poeltl most recently played in the Raptors’ impressive 122-92 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The 30-year-old delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. He shot an efficient 8 of 9 from the field while logging 30 minutes.

The performance continued a productive stretch for the Austrian centre, who has served as a dominant interior presence for Toronto on both ends of the floor. In his 10th NBA season, Poeltl is averaging 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting a career-high 70.1 percent from the field.

Through 29 appearances, including 27 starts, Poeltl has averaged 25.4 minutes per contest this season and has played a key role in the Raptors’ defensive detection and rebounding efforts. His ability to protect the rim and facilitate offense from the high post has made him a central figure in Toronto’s frontcourt rotation.

Jakob Poeltl’s injury remains in serious condition as Raptors face Rockets

Toronto enters Tuesday’s contest looking to maintain momentum as it continues its push up the Eastern Conference standings. The Raptors have relied on balanced scoring and interior defense during their recent run, and Poeltl’s availability could impact how the team approaches a matchup against a Rockets team that has been one of the most consistent teams in the Western Conference this season.

Houston, which is currently 39-24, has built its success on strong defensive play and efficient scoring in the frontcourt. The Rockets’ size and physicality inside make Poeltl’s potential presence especially important to Toronto’s interior defense and rebounding.

Following Tuesday’s game, the Raptors will conclude their two-game road trip on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans (21-45). Toronto will then return home to host the Phoenix Suns (37-27) on Friday.

Poeltl’s final status for the Rockets matchup is expected to be determined closer to tipoff as the Raptors evaluate his status throughout the day.

Before the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green blamed the Rockets for his team suffering another home loss, head coach Steve Kerr put the win in perspective during his postgame media availability. For a winning team without Stephen Curry against the Rockets, the Warriors pulled out a thrilling 115-113 victory in overtime.

kerr discussed the importance According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors win on the Rockets’ home field.

“It’s a good building for us. We’ve won some playoff series here,” Kerr said. “There’s a lot of good memories in that locker room. It’s interesting, we’ve won playoff games here the last few years, series, we won Game 7 here. You win a game like tonight, and it feels the same way. You’re just trying to win. Winning is just an amazing feeling.

“Even though it’s just a regular season game, seeing a group of young guys compete and win, it feels like a playoff win – it really does.”

Steve Kerr on another win in Houston

“It’s a good building for us…there’s a lot of good memories in that locker room.”

“Feels like a playoff win.” pic.twitter.com/YK0JYNPJhC

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 6 March 2026

Brandin Podziemski’s 26 points, including four threes, paced six Warriors players who scored in double figures, including De’Anthony Melton (23 points), Al Horford (17 points), Gui Santos (14 points), and Green (10 points). Warriors’ score became 32-30.

Steve Kerr on Draymond Green’s performance in Warriors win

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says veteran Draymond Green was firing on all cylinders in Thursday’s overtime win against the Rockets, reminding the veteran coach when the forward was at his peak.

Kerr noted while those days are behind Green at this stage of his career glimpses of the past He noted, as ESPN’s Anthony Slater noted, the performance of Drummond, who was surrounded by Warriors youth in Brandin Podziemski.

” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.” “I thought that was Brandin’s (Podziemski) best game of the year,” Kerr said.

Steve Kerr after Houston’s win: ” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.”

“I thought that was Brandin (Podziemski’s) best game of the year.” pic.twitter.com/21oYsHOMy3

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 6 March 2026

Kerr and the Warriors’ road trip continues on Saturday against the Thunder.

After a 115-113 win in overtime against the Houston Rockets, it was no surprise that Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green had a lot to say after the game. Coach Steve Kerr praised the Warriors’ key players in Thursday’s win against the Rockets before Green took the stage for postgame media availability.

According to Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle, Green reflected on the importance of defeating the Rockets and winning on the road in an area with which he is very familiar.

“It’s always satisfying to win here. We’ve had great success in this building,” Green said. “In this situation, one million people are out [including star guard and Rockets tormentor Stephen Curry]…Three two-way guys playing actual minutes. And to come here and get a win, they are playing with all they have. This is one that sounds a little better than most.”

Green, who spent most of the night defending Rockets All-Star and former teammate, Kevin Durant, tallied 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, eight assists, five rebounds and one steal. Playing without the Warriors’ All-Star Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski led six Warriors players in double figures with 26 points.

Green said, “When I let Kevin get to his place tonight, I can contest all I want; you can’t do anything.” “I just try to… get them up a little bit earlier so they don’t get caught up in the situation… If you just let them ride the rhythm and don’t make them earn the right to get into that rhythm, they’ll give you 50.”

Durant finished with 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block. The Warriors have defeated the Rockets five times in 10 postseason appearances, including last year’s best-of-7 series, 4-3, in the opening round of the playoffs.

“Any time you can get an opportunity to go against guys like that, I’m always excited for it, because it’s special,” Green said. “How many more times do we have to do this?”

Following the Rockets’ 104–100 win against the Warriors in November, the Warriors tied their regular season series 1–1.

Steve Kerr praises Warriors’ leaders in win against Rockets

The Warriors have had some success without Stephen Curry, winning half of their last six games, including a 133-112 win against the Grizzlies and Thursday’s overtime win against the Rockets. After the game, coach Steve Kerr told Draymond Green turned the clock back In many aspects of the game, and according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, he gave credit to Brandin Podziemski.

” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.” “I thought that was Brandin’s (Podziemski) best game of the year,” Kerr said.

Steve Kerr after Houston’s win: ” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.”

“I thought that was Brandin (Podziemski’s) best game of the year.” pic.twitter.com/21oYsHOMy3

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 6 March 2026

The Warriors will face the Thunder on Saturday at the Paycom Center.

With how weak the Golden State Warriors are right now, every win has felt like a miracle recently. But this latest one may take the cake.

With seven players sidelined, including Stephen Curry and three of the 10 active players who received playing time on two-way contracts, the Warriors displayed some courageous and inspired basketball to defeat the Houston Rockets 115-113 in overtime on the road.

Brandin Podziemski led the Dubs to the upset with 26 points and nine rebounds. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a 26-foot bomb with 2:32 left in OT, giving the Warriors a lead they would ultimately hold.

“I thought it was Brandin’s best game of the year,” coach Steve Kerr said after the win. “Had just the right mix of on- and off-ball attacks. You saw him make that flare and dive opportunity to start overtime that gave us the lead. He recognizes those plays probably better than anyone else on the field.”

With Podziemski’s heroics, Draymond Green turned back the clock to lead Golden State to an unexpected win. In a very Green-esque stat line, the veteran star produced 10 points, five rebounds and eight assists while protecting Rockets star Kevin Durant as the primary defender.

“ Vintage Drummond,” Kerr said. “Defense, leadership, force, passing.”

Green, who has struggled recently, showed why he remains a valuable cornerback for Golden State. In sports when the lights are at their brightest, and the stars are on the other side, the Warriors need to dim the lights – Green is the kind of guy who rises to the occasion.

“I don’t enjoy guarding Kevin,” a good-natured Green said after the game. “I enjoy competing against great players, and Kevin is one of the greatest players of all time. Top five NBA basketball players in the history of the game… I’m always excited for that.”

How the understaffed Dubs made it on the road

Surrounding those two dominant performances, De’Anthony Melton collected 23 points, three steals and two blocks, Al Horford added 17 points, and Gui Santos collected 14 points and six rebounds and had a game-high +20. Melton and Horford made a big 3-3 in the fourth quarter to send the Warriors to overtime.

But the Warriors also got this win because of their two-way guys, guys who aren’t the 13th, 14th, or even 15th man on the bench. Golden State got valuable minutes from rookies LJ Cryer, Malefi Lyon and Nate Williams, three players under two-way contracts who were headed to the G-League Santa Cruz team earlier this week. With key rotational pieces Moses Moody and Will Richard out with minor injuries, Kerr relied on all three of them.

Cryer, who is no stranger to big moments in his time with the NCAA powerhouse Houston Cougars, collected 12 points off the bench, including a huge 3-pointer in overtime. Lyons somehow finds himself guarding Reed Shepard of all POA players and looks solid while doing so. And Williams, whom the Warriors acquired just two weeks ago, gave him 18 solid minutes when he needed them.

“A great group, these young guys have come in,” Kerr said. “Nate Williams has played really well for us. Malefi, you see the energy he brings. It was really fun to watch LJ tonight…come out tonight, hit four threes, big shots, big minutes. We started him in overtime because we were trying to keep Melton’s minutes down. He made some big plays for us, he’s a winner.”

hold the fort until curry returns

At this point, every win for the Warriors keeps them afloat until Curry comes back and saves them from sinking.

Since most of the teams below them have languished the rest of the season, it is highly unlikely that the Dubs will make it out of the play-in tournament. However, a win like this keeps them firmly in the eighth seed, as the Clippers and Blazers look to challenge them for the relative safety provided by the play-in slot.

But perhaps most importantly, wins like this provide a boost to morale and something Green understands he will need moving forward.

“It felt great,” Green said of the understaffed Warriors’ upset win. “Under the circumstances, [ten] Friends, friends, dropping like flies, it’s a good morale booster. You need these throughout the season. And obviously, we’re trying to keep it together until we get Steph back. This is a big victory for us. This is what you can build on. But it feels great.”

Other notables

• Kristaps Porzingis, who is with the team on this road trip, got a pregame workout. This is an encouraging sign for the centre, who had missed the last six matches due to illness. He remains out indefinitely, but considering that his ability to practice has declined, this is a step in the right direction.
• Speculation ran rampant about whether the Warriors would sign Curry after the 10-day reevaluation was announced. But Green is confident Curry will be back this season. Green told reporters that Curry didn’t want to call it quits and Curry messaged him, “Keep going, I know it’s hard, but I promise you, I’m coming back.”

The Trae Young era has already begun for the Washington Wizards – sort of.

Young has yet to see action on the field as a Wizard, but now he’s part of the story of Monday night’s game between his Wizards and the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena in Washington.

That’s when he was surprisingly ejected from the contest amid a heated moment on the court between Washington guard Jameer Watkins and Rockets forward Tari Eason in the third quarter.

Apparently, Young, who was not in uniform, entered the courtroom, while Watkins and Eason joined him.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Due to lower body (knee and quad) injuries, the 27-year-old Young has not been eligible for games with the Wizards since Washington acquired him via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in January in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

But he is close to debuting with Washington. He is reportedly expected to play his first game as a Wizard this coming Thursday in a home game against the Utah Jazz.

Although the Wizards are literally headed for the lottery, that obviously won’t stop the former Oklahoma Sooners star from playing this week. That said, Young is unlikely to get heavy minutes immediately in his return, as he needs more time to shake off the rust amid a lengthy absence from the court.

Young has only played 10 games so far this season, during which he has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting just 41.5 percent from the field.

The Houston Rockets have been up and down recently, picking up two wins over opponents this week following their collapse against the New York Knicks over the weekend. During Wednesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, Rockets guard Reed Shepard scored 28 points and hit seven three-pointers in the win.

After the game, according to Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle, Shepard was 100% honest about how he thinks the three-ball could be even more of a weapon for Houston moving forward.

“I think there’s always room for more 3s, but I like to shoot 3s, so that’s who I am,” Shepard said. “The more we play with pace and continue to get into the paint, teams have to make decisions whether to fan out or try to stay in gaps, and if they do that, it leaves us open to shoot more 3s.”

Shepard said that “…it’s going to change every night because teams’ defenses are different, but if we can keep the pace and get into the paint, there’s definitely going to be more open 3s.”

The Rockets have several sharpshooters on the roster, led by Shepard, who is making more than 39 percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season.

While the free agent signing of Dorian Finney-Smith is starting to look like a failure, Terry Eason is continuing to spray the long ball effectively, and Kevin Durant certainly remains a perennial threat from long range.

Houston’s offense has slowed down a bit after a strong start to the season, but they still have enough firepower to be a dangerous opponent for anyone come playoff time.

The Rockets next take the field on Wednesday evening against the hot Orlando Magic on the road for a tough back-to-back battle. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

The Sacramento Kings entered the season fresh on Wednesday, ending a 16-game losing streak in the NBA. Now they’ve seen Keegan Murray exit the Houston Rockets game with a possible foot ailment.

Murray suffered an NBA injury with about 3:25 left to play in the first quarter at Toyota Center.

Keegan Murray headed to the Kings locker room after getting into the game awkwardly.

Hope he is okpic.twitter.com/KQi9RSYPNe

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

Murray averages 14.5 points per game for Doug Christie and Sacramento. But now he has been officially ruled out due to a left ankle injury.

UPDATE: The Kings announced that Keegan Murray (left ankle) is out for the remainder of tonight’s game against the Rockets. https://t.co/9qeVZ3CuYW

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

He was satisfied with only three points in a span of nine minutes. Murray grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot on the defensive side.

Kings are trending towards landing the top pick of the NBA draft

Murray has emerged as one of the better performers in a lost season in Sacramento.

Despite this, the Kings are on their way to achieving another feat: capturing the No. 1 spot in the NBA Draft.

ClutchPoints’ Eric Slater reveals where the Kings stand in the race for the top pick.

The nets lost. The Pelicans won.

Brooklyn is getting more segregation in third place in the lottery standings. pic.twitter.com/Ny0H3aSZ3L

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 25 February 2026

Based on current projections, Sacramento remains ahead of the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. However, finishing with the league’s worst record does not guarantee the top pick in this scenario.

The Dallas Mavericks benefited from the lottery system last season – earning the top spot despite finishing at 39-43. Cooper Flagg arrived at the move a month later.

Just days before the All-Star break earlier this month, Kevin Durant took aim at American-born basketball players for not attempting during the NBA All-Star Game.

“You have to ask the European and world teams if they’re going to compete,” Durant said. “If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic right now, let’s go back and see what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So, we haven’t questioned what they’re doing. But we’re going to question the old heads and the Americans.”

The comments sparked a strong conversation, which was an excuse for both American teams to beat Team World in the new All-Star Game format. Now, he’s continuing his campaign against rhetoric he considers unfair to American players and a subtext that isn’t often talked about in the ESPN report about their playing in the 2028 Olympics.

“That’s a lot of bull—with it. I can read between the lines on that. It’s a shot at black Americans. We’re controlling the game. They’re tired of us controlling the game.

He added, “’France is coming for you.’ Really? We beat up those boys.”

Durant is right, as the 2024 version of Team USA defeated the Victor Wembanyama-led French national team at the Olympics. Team USA has won a gold medal in every Summer Olympics since a shocking bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics.

Durant also said he is not ruling out playing in the LA Olympics in the summer of 2028, indicating that the media has planted a narrative that he and Steph Curry will not throw their hat in the ring.

“You guys, the media, have anticipated this,” Durant recently told ESPN. “Where did that narrative, the last dance thing, come from? I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t playing. You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”

The Utah Jazz visit the Houston Rockets on Monday night, with both teams coming into this contest coming off losses. The Rockets suffered a loss to the New York Knicks and had an incredible fourth quarter comeback, while the Jazz lost 123–114 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

And well, the Jazz have several injury concerns to worry about, with both Lauri Markkanen and Keyontae George on the injury list. While Markkanen is listed as probable due to illness, George is questionable due to a right ankle sprain, according to the official injury report.

Of course, the same is true for the Rockets, who are also missing several names for this game.

Lauri Markkanen, Keyontae George’s injury status vs. Rockets

Markkanen is listed as probable and Utah’s leading scorer is expected to suit up against Houston. Markkanen last played for the Jazz in a win over the Sacramento Kings and they have lost both of their games during his absence.

Markkanen is currently averaging 26.7 points and seven rebounds per game and his presence becomes even more important against a Rockets defense that ranks fourth in points allowed (109.4 per game).

Utah entered the matchup 18-39 after a 123-114 loss to Memphis, admitting 24 turnovers. As for George, his questionable status means the Jazz have even more issues to deal with. George is averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 assists per game and it would be a big miss if he sits out. Regardless, the Rockets also have several absentees, including Steven Adams and Tristan Newton.

jazz injury report

Lauri Markkanen: probable (illness)

Keyonte George: Questionable (sprained right ankle)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (recovering from left knee injury)

Walker Kessler: Out (recovering from left shoulder injury)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (nose injury management)

rocket injury report

Steven Adams: Out (left ankle surgery)

Tristan Newton: Out (G League Two-Way)

Ja’Sean Tate: Out (right knee sprain)

Fred VanVleet: Out (right knee ACL repair)

NEW YORK – Jalen Brunson was the NBA’s 2025 Clutch Player of the Year for a reason. On Saturday night against the Houston Rockets, he added to his crunch-time resume by finalizing New York’s 18-point comeback. It took almost half of the third quarter for Brunson to make his first field goal, but the final six minutes of the fourth quarter were his showcase.

New York reduced Houston’s lead for the first half of the fourth quarter with Brunson on the bench. The guard entered the game with 6:27 left, shooting 4-4 ​​from the floor and knocked down the lead-taking mid-range jump shot with 29.5 seconds remaining. It was the guard’s 14th game-tying or go-ahead save since joining the Knicks’ roster, good for second in the NBA in that span.

According to ESPN, Brunson trails only DeMar DeRozan in that regard. The superstar guard told reporters after the game that, despite the game’s make-or-miss reputation, his fourth-quarter masterpiece was about a change in approach, not just a variation.

“I didn’t like how I was playing and I saw I had to change it, it’s that simple. It has nothing to do with shooting. It’s the mentality of getting down the slope and trying to make plays. And not hesitate and not be passive. If there are mistakes, they’re offensive mistakes. They want you to be on your heels. And I think that’s what I was in the first few quarters,” the Knicks captain told the media on Saturday.

Brown says the Knicks “have to get better” after being swept by the Rockets.

Reporters asked head coach Mike Brown about his group’s tendency to underestimate competition and flip the proverbial “switch” when needed. He said after the game that although he has coached teams that can “flip the switch”, such as the Golden State Warriors group that included Durant, those were unique situations that he was not counting on replicating in New York.

“We’ve found a way. But we’ve got to be better,” Brown said.

The organization chose this coach to lead this group because his focus was on team process regardless of results. Sunday night’s tilt in Chicago will conclude the weekend’s back-to-back. After that, the Knicks have 24 games left in the regular season. Brown, and his players, will spend time honing that same process – trying to get as close to perfection as possible.

Jose Alvarado has quietly had a masterful start to life at the New York Knicks, but his comeback against the Houston Rockets thrust him firmly into the spotlight. In just 20 fourth-quarter minutes, the former New Orleans Pelicans man produced eight points, five steals, four assists and a game-best +18 plus-minus, along with a steal on Kevin Durant that resulted in Madison Square Garden booing loudly.

After the game, Alvarado revealed that he and KD were ‘totally in love’ despite the trash talk that happened between them during the game.

Jose Alvarado says there is “total love” between him and Kevin Durant:

“It’s a big brother. He showed a lot of love when I first came into the league. He loves me competing and obviously, he’s a KD. There’s just love, love.” pic.twitter.com/EXOCpZZ4kh

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

“It’s the big brother. He showed a lot of love when I first came into the league. He loves how I compete and obviously, he’s KD. There’s just love,” he said, according to a clip by Knicks Videos on X.

The Knicks trailed by nearly 16 points when Alvarado entered the game, and his defensive intensity and IQ were immediately on full display. The Knicks outscored Houston 33-15 in the fourth quarter, and much of that swing came from direct ball pressure from Alvarado.

In his five appearances so far, Alvarado has averaged approximately 13.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals, while shooting over 55% overall and 37.5% from deep. Alvarado’s obvious impact was also praised by Karl-Anthony Towns, who himself had a big night against Houston.

“They made him feel loved and feel welcomed. I think he reciprocated that energy with his tenacity on the court. Hats off to our fans who welcomed him and gave him the confidence, belief and love to do what he does best,” Catt said, also crediting Knicks supporters for welcoming the point guard.

Karl-Anthony Towns talks about the spark Jose Alvarado gave the Knicks and credits Knicks fans for welcoming him:

“They made him feel loved and welcomed. I think he repaid that energy with his tenacity on the court. Hats off to our fans who welcomed him… pic.twitter.com/biafemEB0E

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

Regardless, the Knicks as a unit responded with one of their most resilient performances in recent memory, and fans will hope they continue in the same manner as they attempt to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The New York Knicks performed one of their most epic comebacks in recent memory in a 108-106 win over the Houston Rockets, overcoming an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 25 points, and a spirited fourth quarter saw the Knicks score 33 points while holding the Rockets to just 15.

After the game, Catt elaborated on how he helped his team mount a comeback, claiming that he challenged his teammates to perform aggressively in the final period.

“I have challenged my team to start the fourth down as a challenge. You know, we can win this game and I see us doing that. It starts with the first possession of the fourth quarter playing defense, we have to make stops. It’s the most important possession of the game, the first play in the fourth quarter,” he explained according to a Knicks video posted on X.

“I just challenged our team to make the fourth start”

Karl-Anthony Towns talks about his message to his teammates before the fourth quarter, challenging them to stop to start the quarter: pic.twitter.com/NkwWAwj8kr

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

Catt, for his part, offered an explanation, claiming that the Knicks were expected to go out in the final period and win.

“And, I also wanted to get that stop on my end. And from that point, you move on. It sets the tone for our team and sets the level of intensity we need to play for because we’re expected to go out and win,” he explained.

KAT helped New York lead a decisive 14–2 run at the end of the fourth quarter, cutting Houston’s lead to two with just over three minutes remaining. But the Rockets’ failure to convert shots also helped the Knicks.

Houston missed eight consecutive shots during the Knicks’ decisive push and finished with 20 turnovers, which translated into 30 Knicks points. Regardless, if KAT set the tone, Jalen Brunson delivered the final blow.

The All-Star guard scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, including the tying jumper and the go-ahead pull-up that sealed the comeback. Now the Knicks will face the Chicago Bulls.

The New York Knicks released their latest injury report on Saturday ahead of their matchup against the Houston Rockets, listing several players with designations as the team prepares for tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

New York (35-21) will host Houston (34-20) at Madison Square Garden while managing a report that includes one confirmed absence and several questionable designations largely tied to G League assignments and two-way contracts.

Miles McBride is officially listed out with injury/illness as he recovers from pelvic-related core muscle surgery. The 25-year-old guard last appeared in the Knicks’ 103-87 win over the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 27. He recorded nine points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals while shooting 4-for-11 from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point range in 30 minutes.

Before surgery, McBride was enjoying the best season of his career. In 35 games with 14 starts, he averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range in 28 minutes per contest.

Multiple Knicks listed questionable as team looks to bounce back against Rockets

The Knicks also listed Pakom Dadiot (G League – on assignment), Trey Jamison III (G League – two-way), Dillon Jones (G League – two-way), Tyler Kolek (G League – on assignment) and Kevin McCullers Jr. (G League – two-way).

The 24-year-old Kolek last appeared in New York’s 138–89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 11. He finished with three points, three assists and two rebounds while shooting 1-for-4 from the field in 10 minutes. In his sophomore season, Kolek averaged 4.9 points, 2.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 48 games with one start, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range in 13.3 minutes per game.

New York enters Saturday’s contest hoping to bounce back from a 126-111 loss to the NBA-leading Detroit Pistons, who improved to 41-13 with Thursday night’s win.

Following the Rockets matchup, the Knicks begin a three-game road trip Sunday against the Chicago Bulls (24-32). Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.

Saturday’s meeting will feature the league’s two top teams in their respective conferences, with both clubs entering the loss column just one game apart.