Record1-0home 1-0 · road 0-0
Last 101-0streak W 1
Net rating+5.42025-26 · ORtg 117.5 · DRtg 112.1
Pace97.0eFG% 54.2 · TS% 57.6
Injuries10 out · 0 questionable
Rumors6tagged in the last feeds
3 things to know
today1At SAS on Fri, Oct 23, 9:30 PM ET on Prime Video.21 on the injury report, nobody ruled out: Steven Adams day-to-day.3Top rumor: Rockets Convert Tshiebwe, Phillips To Two-Ways, Waive Pedulla · 43% confidence.
Season opener1day away · Fri, Oct 23 · at SASWho led the RocketsFull roster →
PointsKevin Durantper game · 2025-2626.0
ReboundsAlperen Sengunper game8.9
AssistsAlperen Sengunper game6.2
Latest · Rockets
All Rockets news →Preview18 min agoRockets at Spurs in Austin: Houston brings a 1-0 start to the Moody CenterThe 1-0 Houston Rockets visit the 0-1 San Antonio Spurs at the Moody Center in Austin on Oct. 23, with tip-off at 9:30 p.m. ET. Prime Video carries the game nationally.Read the story →
Preview3 h agoMavericks at Rockets: Dallas brings a thin frontcourt to Toyota Center
Player focus6 h agoMarcus Smart at $6.1M: The Defense Is Paid For, the Jumper Is Not
Player focus6 h agoMarcus Smart at $6.1M: The Defense Is Paid For, the Jumper Is NotYesterday
11:58 PMInjurySteven Adams: Day-To-Day (Calf · Leg · Right) — was Out11:16 PMFinalFinal score: 110–12811:16 PM▲ StandingsMoved from 10 to 1 in the conference (1-0)8:51 PMTip-offTip-off: the game is under way8:05 PMInjuryJulian Phillips: Cleared — was Day-To-Day8:05 PMOutSteven Adams: Out (Calf · Leg · Right) — was Day-To-Day1:22 PMCap watchCap Watch: $205.5M, Over the Tax and Under the First Apron — The Rockets open tonight against Dallas with $205.5M in salary. That is over the $200.4M tax line and under the $209.0M first apron. Next su…Earlier · 3 more
Tue, Oct 20
5:47 PMWeek aheadThe Week Ahead: Dallas, a Texas Back-to-Back, and Atlanta Twice — Houston opens Wednesday on five days of rest against a Dallas team that went 26-56 last season and split the preseason series with the Rocke…3:28 PMInjurySteven Adams: Day-To-Day (Calf · Leg · Right)3:28 PMInjuryJulian Phillips: Day-To-Day (Illness · Other)Podcast
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Kevin Durant $43.9M · Alperen Sengun $35.6M · Fred VanVleet $25.0M (PO) · Jabari Smith Jr. $23.6M
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Rockets open at San Antonio with Adams' calf the only question mark
The Rockets open the 2026-27 regular season on October 23 at San Antonio, on Prime Video. Steven Adams is out with a right calf injury and has an estimated return date of October 23. Houston finished its tune-up games with a 128-110 win over Dallas on October 21.
By the Rockets Nightly Desk · updated 1 h ago01The story of the nightThe opener and the first weekHouston opens the 2026-27 regular season on October 23 at San Antonio.
Houston opens the 2026-27 regular season on October 23 at San Antonio. The game is on Prime Video. The next night the Rockets play at Atlanta, so the season starts with a back-to-back. Atlanta then visits Toyota Center on October 26. Houston plays at Milwaukee on October 28. The stretch ends on October 30 at Dallas in an Emirates NBA Cup game. Four of the first five games are on the road. The Rockets played their warmup games against Dallas and Oklahoma City. They won 135-117 at Dallas on October 9. They lost 115-132 to Dallas at home on October 11. They beat Oklahoma City 116-89 on October 15. They closed with a 128-110 home win over Dallas on October 21. Houston has 25 national TV games this season.
02Who left and who is still hereMost of the roster is unchanged.
Most of the roster is unchanged. Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard are all on the roster. So are Fred VanVleet, Marcus Smart, Tari Eason, Steven Adams, Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Four players from last season are gone. Josh Okogie is with the Jazz now. Dorian Finney-Smith signed with the Hawks, so he will see Houston twice in the first week. Aaron Holiday and Tristen Newton are unsigned. The front office also trimmed the end of the roster. On October 19, the Rockets were reported to have converted Oscar Tshiebwe and Julian Phillips to two-way deals and waived Pedulla. On October 17, they were reported to have cut three camp invitees. Bruce Thornton and Quadir Copeland are the rookies on the roster.
03What last season looked likeHouston went 52-30 last season.
Houston went 52-30 last season. Its offensive rating was 117.5 and its defensive rating was 112.1, for a net rating of 5.4. The Rockets played slow, with a pace of 97.0. Kevin Durant led the team with 26.0 points per game and shot 41.3% from three. He is 38 now, with 19 years of experience. Alperen Sengun averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Amen Thompson played 79 games at 37.4 minutes a night. He averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists, but he shot just 21.6% from three. Jabari Smith Jr. added 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds. Reed Sheppard played all 82 games, scored 13.5 points and shot 39.4% from deep. That group is back intact.
04The lineups that need a new pieceHouston's most-used five-man group last season included Josh Okogie.
Houston's most-used five-man group last season included Josh Okogie. Durant, Okogie, Sengun, Smith and Thompson had a net rating of 10.3 over 377.0 minutes in 41 games. Okogie is with the Jazz now. The obvious replacement is Tari Eason. Durant, Sengun, Smith, Eason and Thompson were plus 9.1 over 306.0 minutes in 36 games. Last season Eason averaged 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in 60 games. The version with Reed Sheppard in that spot did not work. It was minus 6.4 over 273.0 minutes. The best small-sample group was a bench unit. Durant, Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith, Thompson and Sheppard were plus 21.1 over 84.0 minutes. With Finney-Smith in Atlanta, that unit needs a new forward too.
05Adams' calf and the frontcourt depthSteven Adams is out with a right calf injury.
Steven Adams is out with a right calf injury. His estimated return date is October 23, the day of the opener. Adams played only 32 games last season. In those games he averaged 8.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes. His plus-minus of 6.1 was the best among Houston's top players. The lineup that paired him with Sengun was minus 0.7 over 97.0 minutes. Houston has cover in the middle. Sengun played 33.3 minutes a night last season. Clint Capela, 32, has 12 years of experience. Oscar Tshiebwe, reported to be on a two-way deal now, averaged 7.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in 27 games last season. Jabari Smith Jr. and Eason can play bigger minutes at forward if the calf lingers.
06The backcourtFred VanVleet, 32, is on the roster with 9 years of experience.
Fred VanVleet, 32, is on the roster with 9 years of experience. Marcus Smart played 62 games last season. He averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 assists and posted a plus-minus of 4.1. Bogdan Bogdanovic, 34, appeared in only 23 games and scored 7.4 points a night. Reed Sheppard is the young shooter in the group. He played 26.2 minutes a night last season and had 3.4 assists to go with his scoring. Amen Thompson is listed as a guard-forward and handled the ball plenty, with 5.3 assists last season. Rookies Bruce Thornton and Quadir Copeland are the end of the guard rotation. Isaiah Crawford and Jae'Sean Tate give the wings more depth.
Questions fans ask
When is the Rockets' 2026-27 season opener?
Houston opens on October 23 at San Antonio. The game is on Prime Video.
Will Steven Adams play in the opener?
Adams is out with a right calf injury. His estimated return date is October 23, the day of the opener.
Which players left the Rockets this offseason?
Josh Okogie is now with the Jazz and Dorian Finney-Smith is with the Hawks. Aaron Holiday and Tristen Newton are unsigned.
What was the Rockets' record last season?
Houston went 52-30 last season with a net rating of 5.4. Kevin Durant led the team at 26.0 points per game.
Are Oscar Tshiebwe and Julian Phillips still on the Rockets?
Yes. On October 19, the Rockets were reported to have converted both players to two-way deals and waived Pedulla.
How many national TV games do the Rockets have?
Houston has 25 national TV games in 2026-27, starting with the opener at San Antonio on Prime Video.
Next upFull schedule →
The franchise
every season since 1967 →All time2473-2297.518 over 59 seasons · season by season →Championships24 conference · 9 division titles · every champion →Playoffs3661% of seasons · longest win streak 22 · series vs every team →
2025-2652-30Made the playoffsHouston Rockets · .634 win pct
1967-68bar height = win percentage · the line marks .5002025-26
What changed
Last 36 hoursInjury48 min agoSteven Adams: Day-To-DayCalf · Leg · RightFinal2 h ago110 – 128 ▲ Standings2 h agoSeed 10 → 11-0Injury5 h agoSteven Adams: OutCalf · Leg · RightInjury5 h agoJulian Phillips: Clearedwas Day-To-DayRumor15 h agoSouthwest Notes: Wemby, Stewart, Rockets, Mavs, PelicansInjury1 d agoJulian Phillips: Day-To-DayIllness · OtherInjury1 d agoSteven Adams: Day-To-DayCalf · Leg · Right
Injury tracker
updated 3 min ago · full report →| Player | Status | Injury | Est. return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Adams | Day-To-Day | Calf · Leg · Right | 2026-10-23 |
Rotation tracker · player stock
liveThis season · 1 games · bar = minutes of 48
Stock compares the last five games with the season average: ▲ +4 min or more, ▼ −4 or less.
FinalNBA TV
HOU135
DAL117Fri, Oct 9 · NBA TV
FinalNBA TV
DAL132HOU115Sun, Oct 11 · NBA TV
FinalNBA TV
OKC89HOU116Thu, Oct 15 · NBA TV
Final
DAL110HOU128Wed, Oct 21
9:30 PM ETPrime Video
HOU
SASFri, Oct 23 · Prime Video
8:30 PM ET
HOU
ATLSat, Oct 24
8:30 PM ET
ATLHOUMon, Oct 26
8:00 PM ET
HOU
MILWed, Oct 28
8:00 PM ET
HOUDALFri, Oct 30
8:30 PM ETNBA TV
OKCHOUSat, Oct 31 · NBA TV
Head-to-head
Rockets vs every team →Thunder120-126.488Next Sat, Oct 31 · home · 3 leftKings143-103.581Next Sun, Feb 7 · away · 3 leftLakers91-152.374Next Mon, Nov 30 · home · 4 leftWarriors130-111.539Next Wed, Nov 11 · home · 4 leftSuns119-118.502Next Sat, Nov 7 · away · 3 leftJazz108-117.480Next Fri, Nov 13 · home · 4 leftClippers130-94.580Next Mon, Nov 23 · home · 3 leftSpursDivision101-122.453Next Fri, Oct 23 · away · 4 leftTrail Blazers121-100.548Next Tue, Mar 30 · away · 3 leftNuggets108-103.512Next Mon, Nov 9 · home · 3 leftMavericksDivision107-98.522Next Fri, Oct 30 · away · 3 leftHawks86-82.512Next Sat, Oct 24 · away · 2 leftWizards82-82.500Next Sun, Nov 15 · away · 2 leftCeltics58-99.369Next Mon, Nov 2 · home · 2 leftKnicks77-80.490Next Mon, Dec 14 · home · 2 left76ers78-79.497Next Sat, Nov 28 · home · 2 leftPistons76-77.497Next Sat, Jan 16 · home · 2 leftBulls77-74.510Next Sun, Dec 13 · away · 2 leftCavaliers93-51.646Next Sun, Jan 3 · home · 2 leftTimberwolves86-57.601Next Wed, Nov 4 · home · 4 leftBucks65-76.461Next Wed, Oct 28 · away · 2 leftGrizzliesDivision74-48.607Next Fri, Dec 18 · away · 4 leftNets68-40.630Next Sat, Jan 9 · away · 2 leftPacers60-47.561Next Wed, Nov 18 · away · 2 leftPelicansDivision51-39.567Next Wed, Jan 27 · home · 4 leftHeat35-43.449Next Mon, Nov 16 · away · 2 leftMagic43-32.573Next Sun, Jan 24 · away · 2 leftHornets52-21.712Next Fri, Jan 22 · away · 2 leftRaptors34-26.567Next Tue, Dec 1 · home · 2 left
| # | Player | Pos | Ht | Age | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Amen Thompson | G-F | 6-7 | 23 | 18.3 | 7.8 | 5.3 |
| 2 | Bruce Thornton | G | 6-0 | 23 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Julian Phillips | F | 6-7 | 22 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| 5 |  Fred VanVleet | G | 6-0 | 32 | — | — | — |
| 7 |  Kevin Durant | F | 6-11 | 38 | 26.0 | 5.5 | 4.8 |
| 8 |  Jae'Sean Tate | F | 6-4 | 30 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 |
| 10 |  Jabari Smith Jr. | F | 6-11 | 23 | 15.8 | 6.9 | 1.9 |
| 12 |  Steven Adams | C | 6-11 | 33 | 5.8 | 8.6 | 1.5 |
| 15 |  Reed Sheppard | G | 6-2 | 22 | 13.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
| 17 |  Tari Eason | F | 6-8 | 25 | 10.5 | 6.3 | 1.5 |
| 25 | Quadir Copeland | G | 6-5 | 23 | — | — | — |
| 27 | Isaiah Crawford | F | 6-6 | 24 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| 28 |  Alperen Sengun | C | 6-11 | 24 | 20.4 | 8.9 | 6.2 |
| 30 |  Clint Capela | C | 6-10 | 32 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 0.7 |
| 31 |  Bogdan Bogdanovic | G | 6-5 | 34 | 7.4 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| 34 |  Oscar Tshiebwe | F-C | 6-8 | 26 | 7.8 | 6.6 | 1.2 |
| 36 |  Marcus Smart | G | 6-3 | 32 | 9.3 | 2.8 | 3.0 |
Per-game stats: 2025-26 (last season, until the new one tips off).
Most-used lineups
2025-26| Five | GP | Min | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| K. Durant - J. Okogie - A. Sengun - J. Smith Jr. - A. Thompson | 41 | 377 | +10.3 |
| K. Durant - A. Sengun - J. Smith Jr. - T. Eason - A. Thompson | 36 | 306 | +9.1 |
| K. Durant - A. Sengun - J. Smith Jr. - A. Thompson - R. Sheppard | 44 | 273 | -6.4 |
| K. Durant - S. Adams - A. Sengun - J. Smith Jr. - A. Thompson | 14 | 97 | -0.7 |
| K. Durant - C. Capela - D. Finney-Smith - A. Thompson - R. Sheppard | 23 | 84 | +21.1 |
| K. Durant - A. Sengun - T. Eason - A. Thompson - R. Sheppard | 25 | 77 | -7.4 |
Trade radar
6 tagged · all rumors →hoopsrumors · 15 h ago
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Team stats 2025-26: 115.2 PPG · 48.1 RPG · 25.4 APG
Coaching staff
all 30 benches →Head CoachIme Udoka
Ben SullivanAssistant Coach
Cam HodgesAssistant Coach
Chip EngellandAssistant Coach
Garrett JacksonAssistant Coach
Josh BosticAssistant Coach
Mike MoserAssistant Coach
Robbie LemonsAssistant Coach
Royal IveyAssistant Coach
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About this desk
how Hoops Nightly is made →Rockets Nightly DeskOne of 30 desks in the Hoops Nightly newsroom · no individual bylines, one accountable publisherEverything in the Rockets section is written from this club's own data, under the newsroom's rules: the desk rewrites a page when the data behind it changes, and dates every one of them. The morning briefing lands at 7:00 ET; the game-night show launches with the club's social channels, in two voices — the host and the analyst, roles rather than people.
- Players
- 17
- Games 2026-27
- 83
- Reports logged
- 20
- Videos indexed
- 204
- Home TV
- SCHN/SCHN+