The Rockets are 0-0 with no transactions or injury updates since Rafael Castro's October 1 waiver, so outside coverage is filling the gap before preseason games begin. Houston opens preseason Friday at Dallas, with the eighteen-man roster set and questions building around both the head coach and the rotation behind the starters.
This morning
The Athletic published a full broadcast schedule for Houston's 2026-27 season, confirming NBA TV will carry all three remaining preseason games before the Oct. 21 opener. Nothing in the roster or injury report has changed since Rafael Castro's waiver on Oct. 1, and no transactions have followed since.
This week
The Athletic framed Ime Udoka as reaching a familiar coaching crossroads, pairing Houston's win-now roster with the pressure of last season's Game 6 collapse against the Lakers. No specifics on personnel or scheme were reported beyond the framing itself, published the day before Houston's first preseason game.
This week
The Dream Shake ran previews on three rotation pieces — Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Fred VanVleet — each tied to a projected role inside Udoka's defense-first system. Smith Jr. averaged 15.8 points last season, Sheppard 13.5, and neither has played a preseason minute yet.
The number
Alperen Sengun posted 6.2 assists per game last season from the center spot, the engine behind Houston's half-court offense. Whether that passing holds up with Durant drawing more defensive attention is the clearest on-court question preseason will start to answer.
Friday
Houston opens preseason at Dallas on Oct. 9, with NBA TV carrying the broadcast, then a home rematch at Toyota Center on Oct. 11. A third preseason game follows Oct. 15 against Oklahoma City, before the regular-season opener against the same Mavericks on Oct. 21.
When do the Rockets play their first preseason game?
Friday, October 9, on the road at Dallas, carried by NBA TV.
Is Ime Udoka under more pressure heading into the season?
The Athletic described him as approaching a coaching crossroads, but Houston has no 2026-27 results yet to judge him on.
